-- Movement Health Foundation has appointed Bogi Eliasen as its new executive director. Eliasen, a co-founder of the foundation and member of its Global Board, brings decades of experience in public policy, health foresight, and digital health to the role.
Eliasen replaces Héctor Pourtalé, who helped establish the foundation’s early footprint across Latin America and Africa. The leadership transition signals a shift toward more policy-integrated expansion, especially in low- and middle-income countries where the foundation’s programs target cardiovascular disease, cancer care, and primary care reform.
“We’re at a crucial point where technology, policy, and systems design have to come together if we want to impact health at scale,” Eliasen said in an interview. “My focus will be on connecting those dots in ways that work for local communities and national health systems.”
A Background in Health Policy and Strategic Foresight
Eliasen previously served as Director of Health at the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies, where he led research into long-term health trends, digital infrastructure, and preventive care models. He has advised international organizations and national governments on health policy, with emphasis on data sharing, health equity, and citizen-centered care.
His work helped shape digital health policies across Europe, and he was instrumental in launching early discussions around health data interoperability—a key priority now being pursued by the Movement Health Foundation in Colombia, Ghana, and South Africa.
“Data isn’t just a tech issue; it’s about dignity and access,” Eliasen said. “When health systems don’t talk to each other, patients suffer. We need to fix that.”
Expanding Footprint Across Latin America and Africa
Since its founding, the Swiss-based Movement Health Foundation has launched projects in 12 countries, working with over 40 public and private sector partners. It was co-founded with backing from Microsoft, Roche, and Siemens Healthineers.
In Colombia, the foundation’s Delfos program, aimed at improving cardiovascular care, secured $1 million in public funding after demonstrating a 50% reduction in healthcare delivery costs in a pilot project in Atlántico. The program now serves over 30,000 patients in Putumayo and is expanding into rural and Indigenous communities.
In Ghana, the foundation has partnered with the Pharmacy Council to scale a National e-Pharmacy Platform, which connects more than 3,000 pharmacies and integrates with the national health insurance database. The system has processed over 250,000 prescriptions valued at $4 million and is being used to screen patients for hypertension and refer high-risk cases to public hospitals.
A Focus on Scaling Proven Models
Eliasen’s appointment reflects the foundation’s intent to move beyond pilot projects toward broader adoption of proven digital solutions. The organization employs a six-step framework that includes regulatory alignment, public-private collaboration, and capacity-building within local health institutions.
Recent work in South Africa includes the development of a progressive web application for cervical cancer screening. Built in partnership with the Nelson Mandela University Centre for Community Technologies, the app supports multiple local languages and offers offline capabilities for rural clinics.
“Our work should help governments make informed decisions, not just about tools, but about system-wide change,” Eliasen said. “If we’re not thinking about sustainability from day one, we’re missing the point.”
Leadership Transition Signals Strategic Maturity
The foundation acknowledged the contributions of outgoing executive Héctor Pourtalé, who guided the organization’s early-stage growth and built partnerships that remain critical today. Under his direction, the foundation played a role in Costa Rica’s national health policy overhaul and supported maternal and child health programs in Peru.
The leadership transition marks a new phase, one more focused on policy integration, digital infrastructure, and system-wide adoption of successful models. Eliasen is expected to lead upcoming expansion efforts in Asia and deepen the foundation’s partnerships with ministries of health and technology providers.
Eliasen’s appointment has already drawn attention from several international development agencies. Observers say his background in global policy and systems design may help Movement Health Foundation navigate the complexities of cross-border health innovation, a sector where many initiatives stall after early success.
Contact Info:
Name: Olga Gil, PR Director
Email: Send Email
Organization: Movement Heath Foundation
Website: http://www.movement-health.org
Release ID: 89161367
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