Boehringer Ingelheim and Ashoka’s Changemakers launch “Making More Health” competition

As part of a three-year global initiative to identify and support the most promising solutions to challenging health problems around the world, Boehringer Ingelheim and Ashoka’s Changemakers® today announced the launch of the www.changemakers.com/morehealth competition.

This worldwide competition invites the most innovative models and solutions that are transforming the field of health today.The competition will recognize and award US $10,000 to each of three winners whose solutions are working to achieve individual, family, and community well-being.

The Making More Health competition seeks solutions that work along the entire continuum of health, from prevention and lifestyle, to detection and treatment. Eligible entries include those that increase access to quality health services and treatment; promote prevention, early detection, and diagnosis; empower individuals, families, and communities to address their health issues; or target vulnerable and underserved populations. Entries will be accepted until September 21, 2011.

“The Making More Health competition reflects Boehringer Ingelheim’s commitment to supporting leadership and innovation in healthcare and to improving health for individuals, families, and communities,” said Jean Scheftsik de Szolnok, Vice-President Southern Europe for Boehringer Ingelheim. “By sourcing new approaches to healthcare delivery, the competition will contribute to ensuring a sustainable future in which good health for everyone is possible.”

Participants can submit competition entries through the www.changemakers.com/morehealth website where they can discuss and share ideas about different approaches to health, comment on entries, and vote for winners. An expert panel of judges, including Dr. Andreas Barner, chairman of the board of managing directors for Boehringer Ingelheim and Aman Bhandari, senior advisor to the CTO at the US Department of Health and Human Services, will select a pool of finalists, and the Changemakers online community will vote to determine the three winning entries.

“We are excited about the opportunity our partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim has offered to tap the drive and creativity of changemakers from around the globe and make their solutions visible to all who are interested in finding them,” said Diana Wells, president of Ashoka. “Boehringer Ingelheim is taking an important leadership role in the sector by recognizing the value that surfacing community solutions for health is critical to their core business.”