Better care for more people: maternal health

I’ve sometimes heard skepticism about the role medical device companies like Philips can or should play in health equity efforts. My response is always the same – healthcare is an ecosystem, and each of us has a responsibility to contribute. For me and for Philips, advocating for and improving access to care isn’t just a project; it’s a core part of who we are as a company.

Our mission is ambitious but clear – to improve the lives of 2.5 billion people worldwide, including 400 million in underserved areas. At Philips, we fundamentally believe that access to healthcare is a basic human right. That principle is what drives us to listen intently to the needs of underserved communities and create tangible, accessible solutions that meet people where they are.

The challenges faced by pregnant and postpartum women are personal to me after my experiencing preterm labor with my first child. But it’s not just me. A third of U.S. counties are maternity care deserts [2] – these are places where there isn’t a single hospital offering obstetrics services or a single doctor who specializes in pregnancy. This means women are either delivering babies in emergency rooms or enduring stressful, risky drives to facilities miles away.

For Black women, the disparities are even more pronounced; they are nearly 3x more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women [3]. The shocking part? These disparities persist regardless of income or education. And in major cities like New York, these mortality rates are 6x higher for Black women [4].

These tragic outcomes keep me up at night precisely because I know many are preventable. Transportation challenges, financial barriers, knowledge gaps, and an uneven distribution of obstetric providers create systemic gaps that demand action.

I firmly believe that we can bridge these gaps, and that begins with innovation and creative partnerships. At Philips, we don’t just develop technology; we work tirelessly to bring it to the people who need it most.

For instance, we’ve delivered mobile CT scanners to underserved neighborhoods by partnering with local organizations, and we’ve actively worked with school systems and churches to bring healthcare into trusted community spaces. One effort I’m particularly proud of is the work we’re doing to provide remote blood pressure and glucose monitoring for women in maternity care deserts throughout the U.S.

What’s special about this program is that we’ve removed common barriers to technology adoption. Our devices use cellular connectivity instead of requiring Wi-Fi or a smartphone, ensuring they work no matter the resources in a patient’s home. These tools empower women to take charge of their health by collecting and sharing data with their providers in real time. Not only is this helping individual women stay healthy during pregnancy, but it’s also deepened the national conversation on tackling hypertension and diabetes in pregnancy.

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is that our mantra of “better care for more people” must be baked into the design of any solution from day one. This means starting by listening to the communities we want to serve. When we were developing our maternal remote patient monitoring program, we engaged deeply with patients and providers to understand their challenges. It became clear that we needed to remove barriers like reliance on Wi-Fi or smartphone ownership.

But designing for equity goes beyond hardware – it’s about acknowledging people’s lived realities and ensuring that the technology fits seamlessly into their lives. I see it as my responsibility to advocate for solutions that don’t just work in theory but work for the individuals we’re striving to help.

Another area I’m deeply passionate about is advocacy. Medical device companies like Philips must use our resources and expertise to educate policymakers and push for systemic changes. For example, many states only recently expanded Medicaid coverage to include postpartum care for the entire first year after pregnancy. This kind of change is crucial because half of maternal deaths in the U.S. occur in the postpartum period.

We also have a role in connecting directly with pregnant women and helping them learn about their pregnancy. Our Pregnancy+ app is a great example – it provides expectant mothers with week-by-week insights into their health, guidance to prepare for prenatal visits, and connections to local resources like doula registries and Medicaid programs. Through tools like this, we can help patients advocate for themselves and strengthen their relationship with their care providers.

For me, and for Philips, this work isn’t optional – it’s essential. Enabling better care for more people isn’t just about helping vulnerable populations; it’s about uplifting the entire healthcare ecosystem. When we address access to care, we reduce emergency room visits, prevent complications, promote an efficient use of healthcare resources, and support better outcomes for everyone.

There’s no zero-sum game here. A healthier system benefits us all. And as I shared during the panel, I believe with all my heart that every mother deserves to bring her child into the world with dignity, care and safety. Together, we can make that happen. It’s not just a goal – it’s the new standard we must all work towards.