Screening: At community pop-up clinics, patients are screened and referred based on their risk profile.
Physician Assessment: Doctors confirm diagnosis, and an independent team assesses program eligibility.
Enrollment: Patients receive affordable medication and are assigned a nurse for continued support.
Follow-Up: Over at least 12 months, nurses and health coaches provide guidance, adherence support, and medication refills.
The results after just two years are encouraging: over 8,000 patients have been enrolled, over 30 healthcare centres have signed formal partnerships, and more than 345 physicians are actively referring patients through the program.
Measuring real impact
In May 2025, the ATH program conducted a comprehensive Patient Graduation Assessment done by our 3rd party partner to understand how patients were managing their conditions after more than a year of coaching and care. Out of 93 eligible patients, 59 completed the phone-based survey. The results were striking: 81 per cent passed the assessment, demonstrating strong knowledge of symptom recognition, disease management, and appropriate responses to complications. Patients praised the program for transforming not just their treatment, but their outlook on health. As one participant explained, "The nurse didn't just teach me about my condition, she listened to me, and that made all the difference."
Others highlighted the affordability of medicines and the flexibility of coaching calls, while also suggesting improvements such as in-person support, more medication pick-up points, and peer support groups. These insights are now shaping future enhancements to ensure the program evolves with patient needs.
ATH is part of Boehringer Ingelheim's broader Sustainable Development for Generations framework, which aims to expand access to healthcare for 50 million people by 2030. We feel responsible for our communities and programs like ATH operate as part of the core business, aligning with our purpose of transforming lives for generations.
Programs like Access to Healthcare show that when we listen to patients and partner with communities, we deliver treatment, trust, resilience, and hope.
By building healthcare systems that put patients at the centre, we are not only improving health outcomes today but laying the foundation for healthier, more sustainable societies tomorrow and for generations to come.
The writer is the Head of Sustainable Development at Boehringer Ingelheim for India, the Middle East, Turkey and the Africa region