Being the Change: A Case Study of Five Social Entrepreneurs Improving Healthcare Equity

Abstract

Healthcare in the United States and low-income countries faces numerous challenges and inequities, leading to unjust suffering. Many of these issues can be combated by social entrepreneurship, an emerging field in which an individual or group utilizes sustainable business principles and innovative solutions to benefit a group or segment of society. Examining specific social entrepreneurs and their enterprises in healthcare can elucidate the business model and personal attributes that lead to success. A total of five social enterprises were selected for evaluation: Partners for World Health, We Care Solar, PurpLE Health Foundation, OneWorld Health, and Civica Rx. The founder or co-founder (a representative in the case of Civica Rx) of the enterprise was interviewed, and additional data were collected through various public and internal sources. This data were analyzed, and four major themes were identified: an inflection experience wherein an opportunity is discovered; a challenging deviation from convention was made; a resourceful, creative, and innovative solution is developed; and impact by the enterprise is maximized by educating the local and global community and advocating for permanent policy change. Further in-depth and comparative case studies are needed to highlight the influential impact a single social entrepreneur can have on a major issue and develop a model for prospective social entrepreneurs.