Community engagement is embedded in Novo Nordisk's history and values, where donations are a key element. Our donations can take many forms. It may be employees volunteering their time and resources for community work, it can be donations to improve the capacity in healthcare systems, and it could also be activities to raise awareness about healthy living and lifestyle-related health risks.
In 2011, Novo Nordisk and its employees made substantial donations to institutions such as the World Diabetes Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation and to aid people with diabetes affected by natural disasters. Employees also raised money to support diabetes through diabetes walks, marathons, diabetes camps and sports activities, and local community health events.
World Diabetes Foundation
In financial terms, our biggest single commitment is our annual donation to the World Diabetes Foundation. At Novo Nordisk's 2002 Annual General Meeting, the shareholders made an agreement obligating the company over a 10-year period to make an annual donation of 0.25% of the net insulin sales of the Group in the preceding financial year.
At the Annual General Meeting in 2008, a new donation in addition to the existing obligation was agreed on by the shareholders. According to this agreement, Novo Nordisk is obliged to make annual donations to the Foundation of 0.01% in the period 2008–2010 and 0.125% in the period 2011–2017 of the net insulin sales of the Group in the preceding financial year.
In 2011 our donations to the World Diabetes Foundation amounted to 65 million Danish kroner compared to 69 million in 2010. The contributions totalled 606 million Danish kroner during the period from 2002 to 2011.
Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation
An estimated 80% of people with haemophilia live in developing countries, where haemophilia is not a healthcare priority and many people with haemophilia go undiagnosed or are inadequately treated. To address the significant need for improved access to haemophilia care, the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation (NNHF) was established in 2005. Novo Nordisk is committed to providing annual donations on a long-term basis.
The NNHF supports locally managed development programmes focusing on training physicians, nurses and laboratory technicians, educating people with haemophilia and family members, setting up diagnostic facilities, performing screening programmes and establishing national registries. Furthermore, it grants educational fellowships and an annual community award.
Our donations to the NNHF support 53 projects and 17 fellowships in 41 developing countries. By working with partners across all areas of the haemophilia community with local ownership of the projects, the NNHF aims to ensure the sustainability of development programmes.
In 2011, NNHF received a donation of approximately 16 million Danish kroner from Novo Nordisk.
For more information on the Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation visit www.nnhf.org.
Sponsorships
Novo Nordisk primarily sponsors activities within the framework of the company's therapy areas, with a particular focus on diabetes. Whenever possible, the company is actively involved in the planning, execution and/or follow-up of the activities to ensure as high an impact as possible.
In 2011 sponsorship activities focused on health-promoting activities, awareness-raising and prevention of diabetes. Examples of activities range from diabetes walks, marathons, and diabetes camps and sports activities to local community health events.
We do not collect data for or report the total amount used on sponsorships in the affiliates.
Donations for relief actions
When communities are affected by natural disasters, the infrastructure that normally supplies people with chronic diseases such as haemophilia and diabetes breaks down - meaning a life- threatening situation for hundreds or thousands of survivors. Quick response from companies such as Novo Nordisk is often crucial.
Main donations in 2011 include:
- On 8 August 2011, Novo Nordisk delivered 35.000 vials of insulin to the Medical Supply Organisation (MSO) in Benghazi, Libya ensuring a continued supply of medicine to treat people with diabetes during the conflict after the March 2011 embargo restricted access to medicine. Due to a lack of funds and logistics and distribution challenges, the insulin was delivered from Copenhagen via Egypt to the MSO free-of-charge. The MSO provides healthcare services including the supply of medicines and all other medical supplies to the public sector. We will continue to supply shipments of insulin to Libya throughout 2011 despite an uncertain financial situation and persistent distribution and logistics challenges such as severe limitation in air and sea freight.
- In the wake of the earthquake, tsunami and resulting nuclear power station accident that took place in March 2011, Novo Nordisk Japan worked in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, wholesalers, physicians' association, local diabetes societies and patient associations to put a system in place to ensure the continued supply of insulin to the affected areas. A hotline was also established to collect emergency requests from those areas. As a result, insulin was delivered within two to three days, and in subsequent days Novo Nordisk Japan also provided free insulin to people living in shelters. The NovoCare call centre, which handles inquiries 24 hours/day and 365 days/year, provided required information such as how to store insulin and insulin stability, and all information was posted on an external web site to meet the needs of patients, their families and health care professionals.
Employee donations
In total, Novo Nordisk employees donated 204,097 US dollars to the World Diabetes Foundation, Novo Nordisk Haemophilia Foundation, local initiatives, organisations and causes through fundraising activities and salary deductions in 2011.
For more detailed information see employee engagement.