Ideas worth spreading

A grassroots healthcare revolution in Africa

Boris Hesser • TED@Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Half the world's population doesn't have access to basic health care. The answer to bridging this divide lies in pharmacies, which Boris A. Hesser believes can be developed into bonafide centers of community care. In this forward-thinking talk, Hesser explains how he and his team are working to bring affordable health care to everyone, everywhere.

Half the world's population doesn't have access to basic health care. The answer to bridging this divide lies in pharmacies, which Boris A. Hesser believes can be developed into bonafide centers of community care. In this forward-thinking talk, Hesser explains how he and his team are working to bring affordable health care to everyone, everywhere.

About the speaker

Boris Hesser

Boris Hesser

Healtcare advocate

A chemist and neurobiologist by training, Boris Hesser has 20 years of international experience in biopharmaceutical research, product development, portfolio management and strategy. As Head of Integrated Healthcare Services within the General Medicine and Endocrinology Franchise at Merck, KGaA Darmstadt, Germany, he leads the development of a primary health care service platform for the underserved population in emerging economies. Starting in Kenya, the program aims to help reduce global inequalities in primary health care access.

About TED Institute

Every year, TED works with a group of select companies and foundations to identify internal ideators, inventors, connectors, and creators. Drawing on the same rigorous regimen that has prepared speakers for the TED main stage, TED Institute works closely with each partner, overseeing curation and providing intensive one-on-one talk development to sharpen and fine tune ideas. The culmination is an event produced, recorded, and hosted by TED, generating a growing library of valuable TED Talks that can spur innovation and transform organizations.

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