According to a recently published study by Bayer Consumer Health, being poor makes it more likely that you will suffer from self-treatable health conditions. But it also means you will find it harder to take advantage of self-care solutions. In this episode of the Over the Counter podcast, HBW Insight speaks to Bayer Consumer Health’s global medical access lead Emese Csoke about the issues that the study raises for the self-care industry, not least how widening access to self-care solutions can be balanced with equity with regards to affordability. For Csoke, ways forward include partnerships between public and private sector stakeholders and investments in digital self-care.

Timestamps

2:00 – Introductions

2:50 – Bayer Consumer Health’s RISE initiative

4:00 – Self-care is hardest for those who need it most

5:45 – Implications for the consumer health industry

8:20 – Self-care’s “double burden”

10:15 – Profit vs people?

16:30 – Public-private partnerships

19:00 – Digital self-care

22:40 – Impact of RISE so far

Guest Bio

Emese Csoke is currently serving as global strategy director for regulatory, medical, safety, quality, and compliance at Bayer Consumer Health. In this role, she plays a pivotal part in advancing health equity by designing and implementing strategic initiatives that expand access to self-care. Emese led the creation of the strategic pillar RISE – the Research Initiative for Self-care Equity – and authored a peer-reviewed publication on the impact of socioeconomic determinants on health outcomes for self-care conditions. As a lead on Bayer’s “dynamic shared ownership” model, Csoke is also driving force behind organizational transformation and innovation. Csoke holds a PharmD and a degree in Clinical Development Science from Semmelweis University and is certified as a medical science translator.