The challenge of healthcare philanthropy

AS many people in Asia believe that delivery of healthcare services is the government's role, philanthropic organisations in this sector may face obstacles in carrying out their mission.

"In most Asian countries, governments attempt to provide universal healthcare coverage with the state subsidising the cost of hospitalisations, medicines, vaccines or elderly nursing care. Some philanthropic organisations would hesitate on engaging political leaders or dealing with bureaucratic red tape," says David Zuellig, a trustee of the Philippines-based Zuellig Family Foundation, in an interview with The Business Times ahead of the Credit Suisse Philanthropists Forum 2017 held on Nov 16.

"Public health is also tied with issues of poverty, inequality, security, infrastructure, cultural, religious bias and lack of education. Some donor organisations find these interrelationships quite complicated and almost impossible to break through," he adds.