Health cooperatives face a crucial turning point in the coming years, according to IHCO President Carlos Zarco. In a recent article, Dr Zarco argued that these organisations must decide whether to become central players in global health systems or risk remaining on the sidelines as “peripheral niches.”
To achieve a more prominent role, Dr Zarco outlined a five-point strategic agenda designed to tackle looming challenges and harness the distinctive strengths of the cooperative model.
His roadmap calls on cooperatives to integrate into health reforms as strategic partners, emphasising solidarity, participation, and the reinvestment of surpluses. Dr Zarco also highlights the importance of expanding public-cooperative hybrid models in sectors such as primary care and mental health. Digital transformation is another priority, with a focus on the ethical use of artificial intelligence. Additionally, he stresses the need for cooperatives to measure and demonstrate their impact on social cohesion and progress toward Sustainable Development Goals.
He finally advocated for “building international narratives and leadership” to position cooperatives as a “central piece of sustainable health systems”.
“In a volatile and fragile world, healthcare cooperatives offer something very rare: organised trust,” the President concluded. “Their future will depend on their ability to translate this intangible asset into innovation, scale, and measurable results, without losing sight of the essence of putting people—not capital—at the centre of the healthcare system.”
Read the full article here.