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Meeting highlights:
- Olympus’ commitment to medical education and training to reduce the gap of access in Africa, strategic collaborations towards this effort (International Medical Department of Japan’s Kyushu University Hospital supporting training program for Kenyan physicians in gastroenterology).
- Olympus’ innovative portfolio: ENDO-AID platform; AI & Big data as the future of early detection diagnostics.
- Olympus recognized as a Great Place to Work in 2024: prioritizing diversity and inclusion.
- The importance of raising awareness on resource allocation for diagnostics as the backbone of any sustainable health system.
EF: Could you elaborate on the role Olympus plays in Africa?
TC: Olympus META operates across 72 countries with the support of 35 distributors, out of which 15 are in African countries. Our aim is to improve patient outcomes by elevating the standard of care and providing access to advanced medical technology. We are dedicated to tackling critical healthcare challenges and equipping healthcare professionals (HCPs) with the tools and knowledge necessary to deliver exceptional care.
A key element of Olympus' META strategy is collaborating with local distributors. These distributors act as representatives for Olympus in their respective countries, facilitating the distribution of our products to hospitals and healthcare facilities. This collaboration ensures that medical professionals have access to Olympus' state-of-the-art technology, which is essential for improving diagnostic and treatment capabilities. These partnerships enable us to leverage local expertise and networks, ensuring that our products and services are well-integrated into the existing healthcare infrastructure.
A cornerstone of Olympus' approach in META and specifically in Africa, is the training and education of healthcare professionals. Through the Olympus Continuum program, we offer comprehensive training initiatives designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of HCPs. These programs cover the latest advancements in medical technology, best practices in patient care, and effective use of Olympus products. By investing in the professional education and development of HCPs, we help ensure that they are equipped to deliver high-quality care and maximize the benefits of advanced medical technologies.
EF: What has been guiding your tasks this year, particularly concerning Africa?
TC: Our guiding principles remain consistent across all regions and times, though the way we implement them may vary from year to year. At Olympus, our commitment to making people's lives healthier, safer, and more fulfilling is unwavering. We adhere to our core values and align with our strategic principles, which include a focus on patient safety and sustainability, innovation for growth, and productivity.
We keep these principles at the forefront while concentrating on our disease states where we can make the most impact: gastroenterology, urology, and respiratory care. Additionally, we are dedicated to expanding our presence in emerging markets, with Africa being a major focus.
We are deeply committed to achieving our ESG goals, including reaching net-zero GHG emissions across our entire supply chain by 2040.
EF: Could you elaborate on why a dollar invested in healthcare in Africa is more impactful than investing it elsewhere?
TC: When we consider our priorities in the region, Africa consistently tops our list. The significance of the African continent aligns closely with our core values and purpose. We do not differentiate between markets; whether developed or underdeveloped, we believe it is our responsibility at Olympus to deliver our technology everywhere. In less developed markets, it is also our duty to help elevate those countries.
This is why, for Africa, we place a strong emphasis on education and access. These are the areas where the gaps exist, and we aim to address them. To attract investor interest and secure management's focus on Africa, we highlight both the human aspect and the significant growth potential that emerging markets offer, particularly in the medical fields we target.
EF: How do you view the current landscape of gastroenterology, respiratory, and urology in Africa in terms of growth opportunities?
TC: Olympus is globally recognized as a leader in gastroenterology, and we are strategically focused on other specialties, including respiratory and urology, as well. We believe our technology can genuinely make a difference both in patient outcomes and in enhancing healthcare practitioners' capabilities.
Our commitment to these disciplines stems from our confidence in the transformative impact our technology can have. Africa presents significant growth potential for us, both from a product standpoint and a market perspective. However, it is not just about commercial opportunity; there is also a responsibility we bear. The adoption of our products depends heavily on their utilization, which is currently limited in these regions. We recognize that to increase utilization, we need to address the gaps in practice.
EF: How has the collaboration in Kenya with the hospital in Japan for international medical development progressed? Have you considered replicating this model in other parts of Africa?
TC: It has been about a year since the program started. It has been a very successful experience, and we have genuinely enjoyed supporting this initiative. Specifically, in Kenya, we have been involved in projects aimed at the global growth of medical technology, focusing on early detection and treatment of gastrointestinal cancers. This initiative has encompassed several key aspects, including providing top-notch technology.
The initiative included several key aspects, one of which was providing top-of-the-line equipment. However, it did not stop there. The program also focused on training local professionals to effectively use this technology and implement the necessary screening programs. After the equipment was dispatched, we facilitated extensive training, including on-site sessions in Kenya, specialized training in Japan conducted by Japanese experts, and online sessions to ensure everything was set up correctly. We provided ongoing support and training to the practitioners and personnel on the ground.
EF: Could you elaborate on how Olympus’ portfolio is being implemented within the African market and how it is aligned with your ESG efforts?
TC: At Olympus, we envision our future in the context of emerging trends, particularly the impact of AI and big data. These are dominant topics in our daily lives, influencing business, education, and various sectors.
In the realm of endoscopy, we see AI as a key driver for advancements in molecular imaging. As a leader in gastroenterology, Olympus has embraced AI technology and is committed to promoting its use. We launched AI capabilities in our endoscopes a couple of years ago and are now more focused than ever on this area.
AI has swiftly become an integral part of our daily lives, especially within the MedTech sector. With our acquisition of Odin Vision in 2022, Olympus is set to offer advanced AI-driven solutions and data-driven insights that will revolutionize patient care and optimize clinical workflows.
This underscores our commitment to digital health, fostering collaboration and efficiency to enhance patient outcomes.
Additionally, we have launched ENDO-AID, a cutting-edge AI-powered platform designed to enhance its EVIS X1 endoscopy system. This new platform, featuring the ENDO-AID CADe (computer-aided detection) application for the colon, provides real-time visualization of detected lesions. We are optimistic that these digital innovations will soon extend to Africa, where healthcare providers can benefit from data-enriched software solutions.
Regarding our global commitment, Olympus is steadfast in pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our organization has made significant strides in this area, achieving a 45.7% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in FY2023 compared to FY2020, a result of efforts that began a couple of years ago.
Our goal is to implement these advancements throughout our entire supply chain by 2040. We are committed to this initiative on a global scale and are striving to integrate it into our business sites.
EF: How can we help change the mindset of the role of early detection diagnostics in healthcare budgets throughout Africa?
TC: Governmental spending on preventive and diagnostic care is minimal everywhere, not just in Africa. For example, even in Saudi Arabia, one of the most developed countries, this same issue persists, and we are undertaking initiatives to address it.
This is a significant topic for Olympus because we strongly believe in the benefits of minimally invasive procedures. Early detection of cancer is crucial. Treating cancer can be extremely costly, and if we catch it early, we can dramatically reduce the financial burden on governments.
To address both the patient and financial benefits, we actively promote early detection and cancer screening programs. We have implemented such initiatives in Saudi Arabia and South Africa, and we are continually supporting these efforts by providing equipment and advocating for the Ministry of Health to back up early cancer detection programs in both urban and rural areas.
In Africa, we regularly engage with ministries of health to emphasize the advantages of these programs. This is where AI becomes invaluable, enhancing our initiatives by empowering both medical professionals and individuals without a medical background. It enables them to identify potential issues that might not be visible to the naked eye. The AI system can highlight cancerous lesions and alert us to the need for further investigation, enabling early detection and reinforcing all the benefits we have discussed.
EF: How do you see your team, and what techniques do you use to ensure employees are valued and promote a good working environment?
TC: Our employees are central to our success, and we prioritize respect, empathy, and personal growth in our talent acquisition process. We carefully select candidates who align with our regional values and cultural dynamics to foster a workplace where everyone feels valued. Retaining top talent is vital, especially in regions with transient expatriate populations, so we offer extensive leadership programs, business skills training, and career development workshops, including access to LinkedIn Learning. Our leadership development follows the Global Leadership Competency Model, enhanced by 360-degree feedback.
We are proud to highlight our commitment to diversity, with team members from over 26 nationalities bringing unique perspectives that enrich our organization. Globally, we are dedicated to our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategy, which aligns with our mission of "Making people's lives healthier, safer, and more fulfilling." This year, on International Women's Day, we celebrated being named a Top 100 Workplace for Diverse Professionals by Mogul. Our DEI strategy is crucial for enhancing organizational capability, attracting top talent, and addressing the diverse needs of our MedTech customers. A key focus of this strategy is to advance women into managerial roles throughout the company.
This year, Olympus META has earned the Great Place to Work® Certification, with an impressive 93% of employees expressing pride in working at Olympus, feeling warmly welcomed upon joining and affirming the ethical standards of our management. This achievement reflects the dedication and trust of our entire team, making Olympus a truly outstanding workplace in the Middle East, Turkey, and Africa.
Additionally, Olympus has been recognized as a European Top Employer for 2023. This honor was awarded to our major European locations in Germany, the UK, France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, underscoring our commitment to excellent employment conditions and HR practices.
EF: Do you have a final message for our readership?
TC: Our commitment to Africa continues to grow. We are continually reevaluating our strategy for entering the African market, but our core approach has not changed. We are dedicated to improving access to healthcare and enhancing education, which is essential for developing both the market and medical practices. Our unwavering focus is on patient safety, which is a fundamental principle at Olympus.
Patient safety is our top priority, and we aim to achieve it through advanced technology and by ensuring that we have the right team in place to implement this technology effectively. Having 93% of our employees express their pride in working in Olympus META and expressing that they feel warmly welcomed makes me proud.
