Cover Emil Eriksen, founder and CEO of &you (Photo: JV Rabano and Raph Hidalgo)
Emil Eriksen, founder and CEO of &you (Photo: JV Rabano and Raph Hidalgo)
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Emil Eriksen shares how &you is transforming healthcare in the Philippines by making preventive, accessible and patient-centred care the new standard, with a long-term vision for Southeast Asia
Raised in Denmark, where healthcare is regarded as a basic right, Emil Eriksen grew up within a system that was proactive, efficient and accessible. When he relocated to the Philippines, the contrast was striking: long hospital queues, reactive treatment and families seeking care only when something was already wrong. Yet he also encountered extraordinary medical talent. The disconnect between world-class professionals and limited access became his opportunity.
As founder and CEO of &you, Eriksen set out to reimagine not just services, but the entire experience of care. In the early days, his greatest challenge was cultural. Healthcare, he learnt, is as much about trust and behaviour as it is about infrastructure. Rather than importing Scandinavian solutions, he listened. Patients, doctors and families helped shape a system designed around clarity, speed and empathy.
A defining turning point came when &you evolved from offering individual services to building a seamless ecosystem, integrating testing, consultations and treatment into one journey. It was an operational risk that accelerated both growth and impact.
Looking to 2026, Eriksen envisions a category-defining company transforming healthcare across Southeast Asia, making preventive, data-driven care the norm. Each morning at 5am, awake without an alarm, he plans that future in the quiet before the day begins.
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Above Through &you, Eriksen is transforming the way people experience care by creating a seamless healthcare journey built on trust, speed and empathy
Through &you, Eriksen is transforming the way people experience care by creating a seamless healthcare journey built on trust, speed and empathy
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Q&A
What inspired you to start your business? Was there a specific gap or opportunity in the market that others overlooked?
Coming from Denmark, I grew up in a system where healthcare is treated as a basic right, not a privilege. It’s proactive, efficient and accessible. When I moved to the Philippines, the contrast was stark, long hospital queues, reactive care and people only seeking help when something was already wrong.
I saw incredibly talented doctors and professionals, but the system wasn’t designed to support them or the patients properly. That gap between world-class talent and limited access was the opportunity. We wanted to build something that made healthcare simpler, faster and more preventive for everyday Filipinos.
In the early days, what were the biggest challenges you faced in building the company/brand?
Understanding the Filipino context as a foreigner was my biggest challenge. The problems seemed obvious on the surface, but real impact required deeper listening. Healthcare isn’t just infrastructure, it’s culture, trust and behavior. We spent a lot of time talking to patients, doctors and families to understand how people actually experience healthcare here. That process shaped everything we built.
It taught me that you can’t “import” solutions. You have to co-create them with the community.
What sets your business apart from competitors?
It’s the people and the process.
Yes, we provide world-class medical services and technology, but what truly differentiates us is how intentionally we design the system around the patient experience. We obsess over wait times, clarity, accessibility and follow-through. We’re not just offering healthcare, we’re rebuilding how healthcare feels. Faster, more human and more empowering.
Can you share a pivotal turning point—such as a major risk, setback or breakthrough—that significantly changed your company’s direction or growth trajectory?
A pivotal moment was when we decided to shift from simply offering services to building a full ecosystem. Early on, we realised that solving just one part of healthcare, testing, consultations or treatment wasn’t enough. The real breakthrough came when we integrated everything into one seamless journey. It was a bigger risk operationally, but it allowed us to deliver real outcomes, not just transactions.That decision accelerated both our growth and our impact.
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How do you navigate through the changing economic, political and social climate?
Healthcare doesn’t exist in isolation, it’s deeply affected by everything happening around us.
My approach is simple: stay adaptable and stay close to the ground. We listen constantly to our team, our partners and our patients. When conditions change, we adjust quickly.
As you look toward 2026, what is your long-term vision for the business?
Our ambition is to build a category-defining company that transforms how Southeast Asia experiences healthcare. We want to scale across the region, expand our technology and create a system that makes preventive, data-driven healthcare the norm, not the exception. And yes, we’re building with unicorn potential in mind, we want lasting impact. Valuation follows value.
Above Eriksen is reimagining healthcare in the Philippines through &you, building a system centred on prevention, accessibility and a more human patient experience
Eriksen is reimagining healthcare in the Philippines through &you, building a system centred on prevention, accessibility and a more human patient experience
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Are there any professional or personal milestones over the past 24 months that you'd like to highlight?
On a personal note, I’ve trained myself to wake up at exactly 5am every day with no alarm. It sounds small, but that quiet time has become sacred. It’s when I think, plan and reset before the world gets busy. I’ve always made it a point to move my body, whether it’s tennis or running. Building a company takes stamina, and that daily discipline keeps me grounded.
Continuing Tatler’s 25th anniversary celebration, we honour 25 entrepreneurs whose ingenuity, resilience and purpose are reshaping the Philippine business landscape. Many started from humble beginnings, yet their determination and innovation have earned them well-deserved acclaim. Driven to make life better for the Filipino people, they are setting new standards for success.
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Credits
Photography: JV Rabano and Raph Hidalgo
About
Jessica grew up writing letters for everyone, on every occasion. Little did she know that her hobby would eventually turn into a true passion. She believes that content should be relatable yet factual, engaging yet straightforward.
Work
A journalism graduate, Jessica never stops learning and honing her craft. She began her career as a Global Content Editor for a travel company, inspiring readers and travellers to explore the world. Currently, she writes on topics ranging from entertainment, health, sports and travel to in-depth stories about influential and impactful personalities.
For any leads, you may reach her through jessica.zapata@tatlerasia.com via email.
