Innovation

Sanico Srl has redefined preventive healthcare by creating products that allow individuals to manage their health at home. The company introduced the now well-known “10,000 steps” concept decades ago to promote daily physical activity as a simple way to improve cardiovascular health. “Thirty years ago, we introduced the concept of 10,000 daily steps… Today, our products support people in making this activity part of their daily routines,” Sanico shared.

Among their key innovations are advanced health monitoring devices, including pulse oximeters and blood pressure monitors with atrial fibrillation detection. These devices allow users to track essential health metrics independently, making preventive care accessible and efficient. “Our blood pressure monitors check both blood pressure and atrial fibrillation to prevent stroke. This data can then be sent to the cardiologist,” explained Sanico. Pulse oximeters measure blood oxygen levels, a vital sign critical for detecting respiratory issues early, and became especially valuable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the pandemic, Sanico leveraged its expertise to supply pulse oximeters and FFP2 masks to healthcare workers, showcasing its rapid response capabilities. “We were the first to provide FFP2 masks to healthcare workers,” Sanico noted. These innovations directly support SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by promoting proactive health monitoring, early detection, and disease prevention. Sanico’s commitment to creating a proactive culture of care improves individual health outcomes and strengthens public health resilience across communities.

One of Sanicos key products, the Blood Pressure Monitor PL094

Inspiration

Sanico's CEO was initially inspired by a desire to help people manage health issues at home. While initially pursuing a career in medicine, the founder realized that providing innovative, non-invasive devices could have a lasting impact on health and wellness. As Sanico CEO Zhabjaku stated, "I developed a passion for researching tools to help people in their daily lives. This led me to create non-pharmacological methods for addressing, for example, pain relief through the study and development of TENS devices, which use electrical stimulation on energy points of the body to produce reactions that alleviate pain without needing medication. This innovation created a solid aspiration for using electrical currents in the field of athletes' recovery. His studies in Chinese acupuncture led him to combine both his studies with electrical impulses, allowing him to see significant results with efficient and effective recovery with minimal pain. Moreover, this allowed Zhabjaku to grow into new markets driven by hospital use and the beauty sector. This allowed the company to offer their products for commercial use and a miniaturized size for at-home use for easy accessibility to enhance the quality of life. 

Additionally, This focus on holistic wellness extended into sustainable practices: Zhahjaku stated, "Our goal is to become independent from fossil fuel sources in the future, particularly concerning the electricity we need for production. We are 'energy-intensive,' so to replace, for example, our heating systems, we are working on developing a geothermal heating system to achieve zero-impact heating." This commitment aligns with environmental responsibility and underpins Sanico's mission of creating a sustainable legacy for future generations. 

Overall impact

Sanico's innovations have provided immediate and long-term benefits in healthcare accessibility and public health outcomes. In the short term, Sanico helps families with some of life's daily challenges. "For example, we have empowered millions of mothers who have entrusted our company with the nerve-racking task of piercing their baby's ear." Additionally, Sanico has developed a product line that helps people maximize their daily activity, promoting greater longevity and, above all, feeling well.

In the long term, Sanico's innovations are transforming healthcare management. By enabling home-based health monitoring through devices that track blood pressure and detect atrial fibrillation, Sanico empowers people to take control of their health. "This data can then be automatically sent to the cardiologist," Sanico explains, allowing for early detection and intervention, which reduces healthcare burdens and enhances long-term health outcomes.

Furthermore, Sanico's commitment to supporting vulnerable populations, like the elderly, has created mobility aids and other support products, aiming to "combat the disparities that arise due to age-related motor difficulties." Through these innovations, Sanico improves individual quality of life and fosters a healthier, more resilient community, illustrating the powerful impact of accessible, preventive healthcare.

Business benefit

Sanico's focus on health innovation has opened new markets and increased product demand. Their diverse product line appeals to individual consumers and healthcare providers, creating consistent revenue growth. "Listening to the needs of consumers, especially female consumers, who make 85% of household purchasing decisions, and striving to identify and develop projects that allow us to meet these needs." This enhances overall customer satisfaction and broadens its target market reach. By integrating solar energy solutions, Sanico reduces energy costs, boosts profitability, and allows reinvestment into new research areas.

Additionally, with frequent floods in Cusago, power and electricity go down, and the warehouse cannot operate. The innovation of a solar-powered fully electric warehouse with electric storage batteries allows Sanico's warehouse to be run 24/7, allowing solid profitability. This innovation benefits and impacts Sanico's brand image and awareness of its environmental responsibilities, targeting consumers who stand for sustainable and eco-friendly companies. 

Employee engagement has also improved due to Sanico's commitment to innovation and well-being. Sanico Srl has also shifted to automatic warehouses to reduce the labour intensity and strain on employees and increase the warehouse's efficiency and productivity for the employees' overall health and well-being. With initiatives like merit-based bonuses and high compensation rates, Sanico maintains high employee retention and satisfaction, creating a motivated workforce that aligns with the company's mission. This commitment to corporate welfare further drives productivity and growth. Overall, Sanico's innovations in health and well-being and innovative sustainable practices allowed it to foster a strong brand reputation, a diverse consumer base, and long and short business growth through sustainable and eco-friendly practices and community involvement. 

Social and environmental benefit

Sanico’s contributions to society and the environment are multi-faceted. By providing accessible, at-home medical devices, they enable better health monitoring and preventive care, addressing health disparities among vulnerable populations like the older generation. The TENS device, for instance, offers pain relief without medication, reducing reliance on pharmaceuticals and aligning with global health goals. Additionally, once the pandemic occurred, they were the first company to provide and develop blood pressure monitors, aerosols, pulse oximeters, and body mass analyzers, which have become part of our daily lives. This allowed consumers to monitor their physical and mental health daily through technological devices and aids, enabling them to keep track of their health at home and quickly communicate with their doctor to investigate further observed symptoms.

On an environmental level, Sanico’s adoption of renewable energy, such as solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations, and electric storage batteries, exemplifies its commitment to sustainable development. Additionally, Sanico is trying to reach zero-impact heating through a geothermal heating system to become more sustainable. Their eco-conscious practices help mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing and eliminating the reliance on fossil fuels, and their energy reports showcase tangible environmental benefits. This dedication to reducing the company’s carbon footprint also serves as an inspiring model for other businesses striving for sustainability. Sanico achieves this through daily reporting of their CO2 savings to ensure that they reduce the amount of CO2 produced and become environmentally responsible.

Interview

Amet Zhabjaku, CEO