Driven By Health: Pharmaceutical Industry Corporate Responsibility in Ireland

Driven by Health Pharmaceutical Industry Corporate Responsibility

“ The contribution of the [pharmaceutical] sector to our society extends, beyond the number of people employed and taxes paid to the government, to all the communities around Ireland where these companies have brought outstanding practices in relation to health and safety standards, environmental care and community support.” Ms Tina Roche, Chief Executive

Global

Global Pharmaceutical companies globally are currently involved in more than 150 health partnerships and programmes in the developing world.

In the period 2000 to 2008, the industry provided enough health interventions to help nearly 1.75 billion people in developing countries

Positive Health Interventions Indicates the millions of people potentially reached

Global The industry has made available medicines, vaccines, equipment, training and health education worth $9.2 billion to the developing world since the United Nations announced the Millennium Development Goals.

Marketplace

“ The primary societal responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry is innovation – to discover, develop and bring to market safe and effective new medicines and vaccines for patient benefit ”

IPHA President,

Dr Gerald Farrell

Industry Activities

Access to Medicines The pharmaceutical industry is committed to working with the State to ensure that patients have access to the full range of therapeutically advanced medicines, irrespective of their ability to pay In September 2006 an agreement was reached between IPHA and the HSE which ensured that patients would continue to have access to the most up to date and highest quality medicines when they need them.

Clinical Trials Information In 2006 the pharmaceutical industry created a single Internet portal so that the public could easily access information about ongoing clinical trials and results of those trials , whether positive or negative.

Promotion of Medicines The pharmaceutical industry is the primary source of information about its products and recognises its responsibility for ensuring that this information is accurate and does not mislead. The objective of these the IPHA Codes is to ensure the highest possible standards in the promotion and advertising of medicines.

Medicines Safety

Produced by IPHA, medicines.ie provides independent, regulatory authority approved information to healthcare professionals on over 2,000 medicines currently on the market.

Company Activities

In 2007, Abbott Laboratories in collaboration with Arthritis Ireland, launched the RA work a day programme to raise awareness of RA and inspire people with RA to remain or en-engage with work.

Since 2000, Lundbeck Ireland has supported events aimed at promoting visual arts as a means of rehabilitation for individuals who have suffered mental illness.

The Joint Initiative on Bone Health (JIBH) was established in 2004 to build knowledge and understanding of osteoporosis.

JIBH facilitates a partnership built on mutual respect between physicians and the Alliance for Better Bone Health (ABBH) composed of sanofi-aventis Ireland and Procter and Gamble Pharmaceuticals.

In 2002 Eli Lilly launched their award winning ‘ Solutions for Wellness ’ programme, a patient initiative which provides healthy living information, tools and support for people with mental illness.

Novartis Ireland sponsored blood pressure monitoring stations throughout Dublin on World Hypertension Day .

Travelling across the globe, the Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes Bus aimed to raise awareness to help overcome one of the world’s most pressing health crises.

Patient Compliance

IPHA has developed various information booklets and consumer education campaigns.

The most recent campaign , ‘Master Your Medicines’ , was run in September 2008 aimed at helping older people know more about their medicines.

The MSD Crystal Clear Awards were launched in 2007 to address the concern that people are not making informed decisions about their health due to a lack of understanding.

Community

The Challenge Science Roadshow saw 16 Wyeth volunteers deliver structured interactive modules to 75 students.

Pfizer Healthcare partnered with a number of organisations to develop the ‘Way 2 Go for a healthier you!’ programme to highlight and address the rising problem of obesity in Ireland.

GSK Community IMPACT Awards allows employees at GSK Dublin to nominate a local community project they were involved in for a Community Impact Award to receive funding of either €1000 or €500 .

Since 2002 Leo Pharma has sponsored three academic scholarships for disadvantaged students in their local community Crumlin.

In the past 11 years IPHA has raised in excess of €220,000 for deserving causes through its charity events.

IPHA Charitable Giving

Workplace

Pfizer is the first company in Ireland to achieve ‘Heartsafe’ status across all sites, having trained more than 900 colleagues in CPR and/or Automated External Defibrillator (AED) usage.

Allergan believes in contributing substantially to the health of its employees.

Everyday healthy food choices are made available

Every employee is entitled to a full medical every two years while there is a company doctor on site once a week

Counselling services are available and all employees

In 2007 Allergan engaged in a cancer awareness programme with the Marie

Keating Foundation .

Astellas conduct advanced driving programmes for employees with company vehicles in order to protect employees, families and customers from injury on the road.

Further information IFPMA Partnerships to Build Healthier Societies in the Developing World PharmaChemical Ireland Responsible Care Report www.pharmachemicalireland.ie www.ifpma.org/healthpartnerships