WHO & Bayer Partner to Strengthen Global Health Efforts

The agreement will help resource WHO-led programs to strengthen healthcare systems and improve access to essential interventions.

The WHO Foundation has announced a collaboration with Bayer to support global health initiatives, focusing on neglected tropical diseases, self-care, and the effects of climate change on sexual and reproductive health.

The agreement will help resource WHO-led programs to strengthen healthcare systems and improve access to essential interventions.

For over 20 years, Bayer has worked with the WHO to combat neglected tropical diseases through medicine donations and financing for health system support. The new partnership with the WHO Foundation expands this commitment and aligns with three shared priorities.

The collaboration will continue contributing to global efforts to eliminate diseases such as Chagas disease, Human African Trypanosomiasis, and Taeniasis, conditions that still affect more than one billion people globally. With climate change expected to alter disease patterns, the initiative aims to reinforce long-term strategies for prevention and control.

Additionally, the partnership supports building country-level capacities to integrate self-care interventions within universal health coverage, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

It will also advance research under the UN cosponsored Human Reproduction Programme (HRP), which focuses on understanding how climate change affects sexual and reproductive health through insights drawn from real-world experiences.

“This partnership will expand into new models of funding and action,” said Anil Soni, CEO of the WHO Foundation. “Bayer’s long-term engagement shows the role industry can play in global health.”

Claus Runge, Global Head of Public Affairs, Sustainability & Internal Engagement, Pharmaceuticals at Bayer, said, “For two decades, Bayer has supported global efforts to eliminate a number of neglected tropical diseases. Today we are proud to renew this commitment through a partnership with the WHO Foundation. We are also delighted to be opening up a new and exciting chapter which will lead to better public knowledge of how climate change is affecting sexual and reproductive health.”

Highlighting the importance of empowering individuals, Daniella Foster, SVP & Global Head of Public Affairs, Market Access & Sustainability, Consumer Health, Bayer, added, “Most people spend just 1.5 hours a year with a doctor, meaning self-care is their frontline of health. From managing pain and allergies to digestive and intimate care, empowering people with the tools and knowledge to care for themselves is not just smart, it is essential. That’s why our partnership with the WHO Foundation is so important.”

The WHO Foundation, established in 2020 and headquartered in Geneva, is an independent organization that mobilizes philanthropic capital and partnerships to advance global health equity and strengthen systems that save lives.

Bayer, a global enterprise in healthcare and nutrition, continues to uphold its mission “Health for all, Hunger for none,” focusing on sustainable development, innovation, and growth. In fiscal 2024, the company recorded sales of 46.6 billion euros and invested 6.2 billion euros in research and development.

The collaboration reflects a shared goal to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals and address critical health challenges through collective action and innovation.

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