Dr. Josep Vergés, recognized as Ashoka Social Entrepreneur by the OAFI Foundation.

• The entrepreneur was one of the Ashoka Fellows honored at the 18th edition of Ashoka Changemakers Day 2024: the Ashoka Social Entrepreneurs Presentation.
• The gala was held yesterday, November 20, at CosmoCaixa in front of nearly 400 people.
• Dr. Josep Vergés shares this recognition with Mireia Barba, Elena Durán, Daniel de Torres and Bernardo Gonçalves.
• The selected individuals join the Ashoka Foundation, which has the largest global network of social entrepreneurship in the world, with nearly 4,000 social entrepreneurs.

Barcelona, November 22nd. The Ashoka Foundation Spain, a leading global organization in innovation and social entrepreneurship, yesterday presented the five Ashoka Social Entrepreneurs 2024, among which is Dr. Josep Vergés. The gala, which was attended by almost 400 people, is a benchmark event in the entrepreneurship and social innovation sector in Spain.

Dr. Vergés has developed a pioneering model in the healthcare system. – ARTRO 360º – for patients with chronic diseases. Based on the experiences of various patients, from elderly women to young athletes, Josep has systematized a resource guide that puts the patient at the center and allows them to autonomously manage their condition. ARTRO 360 takes the form of a technological platform integrated into primary care centers to support patients through scientifically validated audiovisual content created by other patients. In turn, physicians, specialists and caregivers are trained for its implementation. This model has been presented to the Senate for implementation in Barcelona, Madrid, Andalusia and the Basque Country.

More than 45,000 patients are part of OAFI’s Expert Patient movement and access the foundation’s resources and support. 80% report improvements in pain, quality of life and functionality.

According to the doctor: “Being an Ashoka Fellow is an honor and a great responsibility that drives me to continue innovating, changing the conception of osteoarthritis and working to change the traditional healthcare system to a more inclusive model, with the empowered patient at the center of the solutions. It is a recognition that validates OAFI’s work in defending the rights of people with osteoarticular diseases and motivates us to continue driving social change by and for patients.”

The new Ashoka Fellows from Spain and Portugal are five entrepreneurs who are developing pioneering projects with high social impact in different areas from their organizations: Mireia Barba, founder of Espigoladors; Elena Durán, creator of 55mais; Bernardo Gonçalves, founder of MyPolis; and Daniel De Torres, of red Antirumores.

Rafael Vilasanjuan, President of Ashoka Spain and Portugal and Director of Impact at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, said: “Today is a very special day, because we have welcomed five inspiring individuals to the Ashoka Community who, through social innovation, provide solutions to long-term problems in the areas of democracy, health, diversity, longevity and sustainability. Our job at Ashoka is to support them in making their social and environmental impact even greater.”

About Ashoka:

Ashoka is the non-profit organization that identifies, connects and accompanies leaders of social innovation. The purpose is to make all people aware of their power to transform the world and use it. That is why Ashoka empowers change leaders – Social Entrepreneurs, Young Social Innovators and Educational Leaders – to build a society capable of generating large-scale positive change.

Globally, the network has more than 3,800 Social Entrepreneurs, 59 of them in Spain and Portugal. It is considered the fifth most influential NGO in the world, according to NGO Advisor, and its founder, Bill Drayton, received the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation in 2011.