AstraZeneca’s Iskra Reic on advancing health equity, tackling NCDs across MEA

As health systems across the Middle East and Africa confront the dual pressures of rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and persistent access gaps, AstraZeneca is placing health equity at the heart of its mission.

In this nterview, Iskra Reic, EVP – International at AstraZeneca, shares how the company is working to deliver healthcare that is inclusive, impactful and future-focused.

From AI-powered diagnostics in rural Africa to large-scale screening programme in the UAE, Reic discusses why closing the health gap is not only a moral imperative but a cornerstone for sustainable health systems in the region and beyond.

From your perspective what is health equity and what does it mean in practice?

We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life – regardless of where they live, their background, or their economic circumstances. This is what we mean by health equity, and it underpins everything we do.

We also know the world is facing growing challenges – from ageing populations to climate change – that are straining health systems and widening inequities in high-, middle- and low-income countries.

The Middle East and North Africa region is experiencing a demographic shift that will increase non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer and cardiorenal diseases over the next few decades. The elderly population there is expected to rise by 290 per cent from 2018 to 2050, leading to a projected doubling of cancers and cancer deaths by 2040 in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region. In Africa, 2.1 million new cancer cases and 1.4 million deaths are projected annually by 2040.

These diseases affect lives, livelihoods, and economic productivity, exacerbating health inequities by disproportionately impacting lower-income and rural populations with limited healthcare access.

To address this burden, governments need integrated policies focusing on prevention, early detection, and treatment of NCDs. Early action on the NCD crisis can improve equitable health outcomes, reduce health system costs, and mitigate healthcare’s environmental impact.

That’s why we are embedding health equity across our business – starting with our science, to the delivery of healthcare across our therapy areas, and community engagement.  In science, for example, we are ensuring our genomics research and clinical trials are representative of the patients impacted by disease including those from understudied global communities.

In healthcare delivery, one area where we are focusing on is chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our collaboration with SEHA in Abu Dhabi advances early detection and integrated care for CKD. Since launching a new screening protocol, over 145,000 patients have been screened, with 30,000 diagnosed for earlier intervention.

I’m also inspired by our work on new technologies, such as our partnership with MedSol AI in South Africa that introduces Wi-Fi-enabled ultrasounds to rural clinics, increasing breast cancer screenings by over 40 per cenr and improving healthcare access.

How does AstraZeneca work with partners to improve health equity in the Middle East and Africa?

Achieving health equity requires cross-sector collaboration. AstraZeneca partners with Ministries of Health, local organisations, community leaders, and others to ensure comprehensive healthcare throughout the patient journey — from screening and early detection to diagnosis and treatment.

A prime example is Cancer Care Africa, where we collaborate with health authorities and local leaders on building capacity, screening and diagnostics, patient empowerment, and access to medicines. In 2024 alone, Cancer Care Africa screened 160,000 people and trained 13,000 healthcare workers.

By 2030, the aim is to screen 10 million people, improve diagnostics for 500,000 patients, and double patient access to innovative cancer medicines.

We also tackle root causes of health inequities by empowering young people to make informed health choices. The Young Health Programme (YHP) has reached nearly 20 million young people with health education and advocacy, empowering them to take charge of their well-being.

In Jordan, the ‘Be The Change – Be You’ project educates school children aged 10 to 16 about the risks of smoking and tobacco use. This is one of many YHP initiatives engaging young people both regionally and globally.

Ensuring equitable access to healthcare is not a small task, but I am so proud of the great progress we’re making to close these gaps.

 Why are NCDs such a key focus of your conversations as the recent ADGHW?

The rise of NCDs – otherwise known as chronic diseases – is a major global health crisis, affecting over three billion people and accounting for more than 70 per cent of deaths worldwide.

A recent study estimates that major NCDs, including cancer, diabetes, lung, and heart diseases, claim at least 150,000 lives annually in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

During the recent Abu Dhabi Global Health Week, I joined a symposium with Gulf region experts, policymakers, and patients to explore transformative solutions for for illnesses such as cancer and rare diseases. We emphasised the vital role of public-private partnerships emphasising the crucial role of public-private partnerships, such as the Partnership for Health System Resilience and Sustainability (PHSSR) and Lung Ambition Alliance, in advancing sustainable global health.

Abu Dhabi Global Health Week is more than just a conference — it’s a catalyst for action. It unites governments, industry, academia, and innovators to confront some of the most significant health challenges we face today.

This platform enables health leaders and policymakers to focus on enhancing health equity, adopting digital technology, and ensuring sustainable health financing through early detection of NCDs.

Tell me more about your specific efforts to tackle NCDs in the UAE, the Middle East and Africa region and beyond.

 In the UAE, we collaborate with the Department of Health and other institutions to enhance diagnostics and disease management for non-communicable and rare diseases.

We are working with the Abu Dhabi Department of Health to develop a digital lung health screening platform that identifies high-risk patients for lung cancer and respiratory diseases at an early stage. Additionally, AstraZeneca has established an Early Lung Cancer Detection partnership with the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MoHAP) to improve early detection programs nationwide, aligning with the World Health Organization’s goal to reduce cancer mortality by 30 per cent by 2030.

In the Middle East & Africa, AstraZeneca’s Healthy Heart Africa programme collaborates with ministries of health to enhance early detection of heart and kidney diseases, focusing on those most in need and promoting equitable care. Since 2014, our partnership has identified 12 million people with hypertension, trained 12,000 health workers, and conducted 67 million blood pressure screenings.

I am looking forward to the United Nations High-Level Meeting on NCDs this September, where global leaders will unite for concerted action. In this pivotal forum, it is critical for health sector leaders to play a central role in advocating for urgent action and long-term solutions.