Zuellig uses business expertise to improve rural health care services

The Zuellig group of companies has quietly applied its vast business expertise in improving access to rural health care and delivery of services in various parts of the country.

In the last 10 years alone, the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) has initiated and piloted various health programs in more 600 municipalities and 23 provinces.

To ensure quality and efficiency in its health ventures, the ZFF has been collaborating with the Department of Health, notably the department’s regional directors and staff, in implementing health care programs.

The Zuellig business group is one of the largest pharmaceutical and health care groups in Asia. It also has interests in insurance and property. Past reports showed that Zuellig Pharma made $10 billion in sales in 2015.

In the Philippines, Zuellig has a strong local network of health care facilities, professionals and regulators which enables it to be on top of the evolving health care environment.

During the ZFF’s Health Leadership and Governance Symposium at the Asian Institute of Management Conference Center in Makati City, David Zuellig, a trustee of the ZFF, said “10 years ago, my late father Stephen and uncle Gilbert, changed our family philanthropy focus in the Philippines—to health of the poor.”

“This was a fundamental change since previously our family involvement was initially related to the CSR activities of the Zuellig Group in Laguna to serve communities around our manufacturing facilities,” he said.

Sometime in 2001, Zuellig said it became a corporate foundation advocating health policies and training of health professionals.

The family eventually decided to adopt another fundamental change—from a corporate foundation to a family foundation, Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), which will be family-funded and directed.

“As envisioned, the foundation will be the vehicle of the family in giving back to the country of our birth,” Zuellig said.

An estimated P800 million for all the ZFF programs have been spent by the family in the last 10 years. On the other hand, the ZFF partners have contributed a total of P400 million.