PharmAccess mobilizes public and private resources for the benefit of doctors and patients through clinical standards and quality improvements, loans for healthcare providers, health insurance, mHealth innovations and operational research.
Our community-based approach to hypertension and diabetes in Zanzibar has been recognized with a Gold Prize at the Patient Partnership Index 2026, an initiative by OVID Health that celebrates collaboration between pharma and patient communities.
In Zanzibar, living with hypertension or diabetes often means traveling long distances just to see a healthcare provider (a doctor or a nurse). And when patients finally get there, clinics are often overcrowded, making it harder to receive quality care or personalized health guidance.
For many people, that’s enough to give up altogether.
Together with the Ministry of Health Zanzibar — through the NCD Unit and District Health Management Teams — PharmAccess built a network of community-based groups where people can get monitored, receive advice, and stay on track. Not at a distant clinic, but where they live, supported by nurses and community health workers who know them.
Patients are also connected to digital health records, ensuring continuity of care well beyond a single visit. Care doesn’t stop at the clinic door.
“Bringing care closer to communities not only saves lives, it reduces the long-term cost of complications. When innovation, partnership, and strong government leadership come together, we can accelerate progress towards universal health access,” said Faiza Abbas, Program Director in Zanzibar.
The program has reached over 1,200 people. Blood pressure improved by up to 80%. Blood glucose levels improved by around 50%. Behind every number is a real person living better with their condition.
“This work would not have been possible without the commitment and leadership of the Ministry of Health Zanzibar, the support of our partner Sanofi, and the dedication of every health worker and patient on the ground. It is a strong example of what we can achieve when care is built around people’s everyday realities,” said Faiza Abbas.
