In our 2000 report, we began to address more systematically the issue of access to health for all, which we see as one of the key social responsibility issues for the pharmaceutical industry. Access to health is closely linked to the globalisation debate and its impact on the present unequal distribution of the world’s wealth. These are issues that all parties in society urgently need to address.

The pharmaceutical industry has a particular obligation to tackle this problem as it offers products that deliver value to society and improve people’s quality of life. A decent quality of life should not only be the privilege of those who have access to and can afford healthcare. Against this background, we have taken a range of initiatives known as LEAD – Leadership in Education and Access to Diabetes care – including the launch of the World Diabetes Foundation

Social responsibility is about acting on our commitment to be responsible corporate citizens in every action, dialogue or engagement that we undertake. Novo Nordisk defines social responsibility as putting values into action from the perspective of

our values, human rights, and our relationships with society at large. As targeted, in 2001 we completed a comprehensive review of our social responsibility obligations. This helped us focus on two key issues: global health and equal opportunities in the workplace. It also led us to identify challenges and priorities for the future, which are now part of our strategy for corporate social responsibility.

As a global corporate citizen, we hold ourselves responsible to the international community and the societies in which we operate, as well as to our customers, employees, suppliers and business partners. So we must be accountable for our actions. This widening circle of responsibility is reflected in this year’s report on our social performance. It extends from global access to health, to the health and safety of our employees; and from equal opportunities in the workplace to systematic evaluation of suppliers’ social and environmental responsibility. It describes how we are creating a learning culture and sharing best practices to better manage knowledge – one of our most critical resources.

Our growing responsibilities also include managing a host of bioethical issues, from animal testing through the use of human materials in drug discovery and development, to the proper conduct of clinical trials. In these areas, we face a multitude of dilemmas. They all derive from the changing roles of corporations in society and the acknowledgement that business must play an ever greater role in the society in which it operates.

Some of the most pertinent dilemmas are described in this section:

• How do we improve access to healthcare and make our products affordable, and yet continue to operate a profitable business?
• How do we protect our intellectual property rights and yet help share knowledge that can save lives and generate income for others?
• How do we stimulate diversity and equal opportunities and yet maintain a corporate culture of shared values?

• How can we pay due respect to animal welfare and yet continue to use animals for testing in order to meet the safety requirements for pharmaceutical products?

The pharmaceutical industry is certain to change dramatically in adapting to the new socio-economic reality. Public-private partnerships and multi-stakeholder initiatives are likely to bring about more sustainable solutions to the world’s major challenges – including the overriding issue of overcoming the global ‘divides’.