Overview
Health is a basic human need but many people in developing countries have little access to health care and too many are left impoverished by paying for it.
By investing in this critical sector, IFC is contributing to improved access to high quality care for people in developing countries.
Good health enables people to work, study, and care for their families and is a priority for IFC. Worldwide, 100 million people fall below the poverty line every year as a result of healthcare costs. Poor countries struggle to provide basic care, while increasingly called upon to address diseases of an aging population like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Demand for healthcare is growing rapidly in developing countries. Rising middle classes and lengthening life expectancy is propelling spending on health care. Much of this care—in some of the poorest countries more than half—is supplied by the private sector. IFC is investing in companies working to bring best practices to health care and life sciences and which are innovating to adapt technologies and processes to control costs and serve emerging markets.
IFC’s roles include direct and indirect investment in health care and life sciences companies, sharing industry knowledge, raising management and clinical standards, informing government policy, and supporting public-private collaboration in health.
Development Reach
The impact of IFC clients in Health and Education in 2017:
- 41 MILLIONPATIENTS CARED FOR
- 453ThousandJOBS SUPPORTED
- 244ThousandJOBS FOR WOMEN SUPPORTED
A company or entrepreneur seeking to establish a new venture or expand an existing enterprise can approach IFC directly.
The investment proposal can be submitted to the IFC field office that is closest to the location of the proposed project.
