Haleon strengthens drive for greater health inclusivity

Haleon, a consumer company that is solely focused on better everyday health, today announces plans to boost health inclusivity efforts globally, including the launch of a new goal as part of its updated Health Inclusivity and Sustainability strategy.

The new goal – to provide opportunities for over 300 million people a year to take more control of their everyday health by 2030 – will be supported by a strengthened focus on championing health literacy as the gateway to better health, together with increasing access to everyday healthcare products in underserved communities.

Haleon will expand efforts to enable people everywhere to have access to clear, trusted health information, by encouraging policymakers to recognise health literacy as a global public health priority while driving action in communities with limited access to healthcare services and support. The company is calling for health literacy to be fully embedded in national health systems and policy frameworks, supported by the publication of a new five-step implementation plani to make healthcare information clear, accessible and easy to navigate for everyone.

To drive direct action in underserved communities, the company is also launching its Better Everyday Health Project, a pioneering global programme to boost health literacy amongst people who lack the knowledge and tools to manage their everyday health. Working in partnership with organisations including CARE International, Haleon will equip community health workers with practical tools and training to build people’s knowledge and confidence while increasing access to everyday health products in the communities they serve. They will be supported in becoming Community Health Entrepreneurs (CHEs) – trusted community leaders who are trained to promote self-care behaviours and provide essential health products to the people who need them most.

The programme will launch in Kenya – focusing on Kisumu County – where CHEs will be recruited and trained by CARE International, with support from local partners. The CHEs will play a crucial role in fostering self-care and health-seeking behaviours in underserved communities through health education which is tailored and locally relevant, while improving access to everyday health products.

Sarah McDonald, VP Health Inclusivity and Sustainability at Haleon said: “Health literacy is one of the most powerful tools for helping people feel more confident and in control of their everyday health. Yet nearly one in four adults globally has low health literacy. Our new 2030 Health Inclusivity

goal puts health literacy and accessibility at the heart of our strategy, as we continue to scale our brand, healthcare professional and policy initiatives to build health literacy, increase access to everyday health products and tackle bias and prejudice. Together, we can help millions more people take more control of their everyday health, preventing more serious illnesses so the people we serve can live in good health for longer.”

Rebecca Hastings, Head of Partnerships and Philanthropy at CARE International UK said: “We are delighted to be working with Haleon to improve community health in Kenya, to achieve our shared goal to make health more inclusive, sustainable and achievable for everyone.”

Haleon’s new Health Inclusivity goal builds on the strong foundations set by the company in tackling global health exclusion since its 2022 launch. Last year, the company surpassed its original goal of empowering 50 million people a year to be more included in opportunities for better everyday health, having reached over 74 million people a year by the end of 2025.

Haleon is working to drive greater Health Inclusivity across the globe, focused on three key areas: improving health literacy, increasing access to everyday health products, and tackling bias and prejudice.

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Notes to Editors:

Haleon’s Health Inclusivity and Sustainability Strategy

Haleon has already empowered more than 74 million people a year to be more included in opportunities for better everyday health. Examples of action taken through Haleon’s superior, purpose-driven brands so far include:

• In the UK, Aquafresh Shine Bright - delivered with Tesco Stronger Starts - gives school children practical lessons on how to care for their teeth and gums, helping to build lifelong oral health literacy.
• In India, mobile oral health services have been delivered to more than 330,000 people during 2025, helping communities with limited access get the preventative care and treatment they need.
• In the US, Theraflu has championed the right for workers to rest and recover, tackling the cultural pressure to go to work while sick and providing microgrants to people without access to paid sick leave.

Haleon’s 2030 Health Inclusivity goal forms part of its refreshed Health Inclusivity and Sustainability strategy which puts Health Inclusivity as its heart - as this is where the company believes it can have the biggest impact. The strategy also reflects the growing impact of environmental changes on people’s health, with many everyday health conditions worsening as a result. The company is committed to reducing its own environmental footprint while building enduring resilience across its value chain. Together, these actions support Haleon’s goal to reach one billion more consumers by 2030.

Haleon’s progress against its environmental goals to date include:

• Cutting net Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 55% from its 2020 baseline.
• Advancing circularity, with 80% of its packaging now recycle ready, while significantly reducing virgin plastic use.
• Achieving Alliance for Water Stewardship certification across all its manufacturing sites — one of the first consumer companies to do so.

Footnotes

1. Economist Impact Health Literacy Policy Briefing Paper

​About Haleon 

Haleon (LSE/NYSE: HLN) is a consumer company that is solely focused on better everyday health. Our people, our brands, our research, our investment and our innovation are aimed at improving the everyday health of consumers. Our product portfolio spans six major categories - Oral Health, Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS), Pain Relief, Respiratory Health, Digestive Health and Therapeutic Skin Health and Other. Our superior brands - such as Advil, Centrum, Otrivin, Panadol, parodontax, Polident, Sensodyne, Theraflu and Voltaren – are trusted by more than one billion consumers and are recommended by health professionals around the world.

About CARE International UK

CARE International UK is a member of CARE International - a global humanitarian organisation leading the fight to end poverty in the world’s most challenging situations. Women and girls are at the centre of our work, because we cannot overcome poverty and inequality until all people have equal rights and opportunities. We know that when a crisis erupts, women are often the first to pick up the pieces, so we work alongside women, so they have the power to make change where it’s needed most. Founded in 1945, CARE currently works in over 100 countries and last year alone, reached over 60 million people. Find out more at careinternational.org.uk