Novartis helps South Africans gain access to essential medicines

Johannesburg, South Africa, September 05 2008 - The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD) plans and supports projects designed to strengthen and secure essential healthcare provision for the poor in developing countries. Through its events and publications, it seeks to promote dialogue on development policy between public and private-sector institutions. By means of scientific analyses, it helps to define the nature and limits of corporate social responsibility, particularly for pharmaceutical companies.

The fight against leprosy is a major public health success. Novartis provides high-quality drugs free of charge to all leprosy patients in the world through the World Health Organisation (WHO), curing 4.5 million patients since 2000. In 2007, the Leprosy Mission of South Africa presented Novartis with a certificate of recognition for the outstanding contribution made to leprosy patients in S.A. and neighboring countries.

In South Africa, the spread of TB is aggravated both by the HIV / AIDS epidemic and the development of drug-resistant strains of TB. Sandoz, a Novartis company is actively involved in the fight against TB. In addition to TB programmes led by the NFSD, the Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) in Singapore is researching options for further shortening and simplifying TB therapy.

Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) started by the NFSD with the Swiss and Swedish Development agencies. REPSSI provides psychological care and social support to children affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty and conflict in South Africa and in 12 other African countries. The HR department of Novartis South Africa also provides training to enhance the NGOs effectiveness in the region.

Prof. Klaus Leisinger who is currently in South Africa, is a recognized expert in business ethics and corporate responsibility. He is the President and CEO of the NFSD. Under his leadership, the Foundation has benefited millions of poor people in developing countries.