Corporate social
responsibility in global health: an exploratory study of multinational
pharmaceutical firms
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
As pharmaceutical firms experience increasing civil society
pressure to act responsibly in a changing globalized world, many are expanding
and/or reforming their corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies. We
sought to understand how multinational pharmaceutical companies currently
engage in CSR activities in the developing world aimed at global health impact,
their motivations for doing so and how their CSR strategies are evolving.
METHODS:
We conducted a small-scale, exploratory study combining (i) an
in-depth review of publicly available data on pharmaceutical firms' CSR with
(ii) interviews of representatives from 6 firms, purposively selected, from the
highest earning pharmaceutical firms worldwide.
RESULTS:
Corporate social responsibility differed for each firm
particularly with respect to how CSR is defined, organizational structures for
managing CSR, current CSR activities, and motivations for CSR. Across the firms
studied, the common CSR activities were: differential pharmaceutical pricing, strengthening
developing country drug distribution infrastructure, mHealth initiatives, and
targeted research and development. Primary factors that motivated CSR
engagement were: reputational benefits, recruitment and employee satisfaction,
better rankings in sustainability indexes, entrance into new markets, long-term
economic returns, and improved population health. In terms of CSR strategy,
firms were at different points on a spectrum ranging from philanthropic
donations to integrated systemic shared value business models.
CONCLUSIONS:
CSR is of increasing importance for multinational pharmaceutical
firms yet understanding of the array of CSR strategies employed and their
effects is nascent. Our study points to the need to (i) develop clearer and
more standardized definitions of CSR in global health (2) strengthen indices to
track CSR strategies and their public health effects in developing countries
and (iii) undertake more country level studies that investigate how CSR engages
with national health systems.
Corporate social responsibility
in countries with mature and emerging pharmaceutical sectors.
Abstract
In recent decades the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) has been adopted by many business sectors, including the pharmaceutical
industry. However, in this and other sectors its application remains variable,
particularly between mature and developing economies. Its stakeholders include
pharmacy and medical students, their attitude to the involvement of companies
in socially responsible activities will be important determinants of public
response to the industry.
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices of senior
medical and pharmacy students towards the CSR concept in the pharmaceutical
sector in mature (Germany) and developing (Russia) markets.
METHODS:
A questionnaire survey was carried out among senior pharmacy and
medical students during the summer semester 2008 in two Russian and one German
university. In each country 120 questionnaires were distributed. The response
rate was 95% in Russia and 93% in Germany.
RESULTS:
Although the relevance of CSR was widely acknowledged by the
students, very few were aware of CSR practices currently performed by
companies. THE REPUTATION OF THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY WAS GENERALLY POOR:
less than 15% of respondents gave credence to the information provided in
advertisements and fully supported pricing strategies as well as policies
towards the developing countries. When choosing an employer more than 90% of
respondents consider the policies affecting an employee directly as pivotal. However,
for a high proportion of students (59% in Russia and 64% in Germany) socially
irresponsible behavior by companies has a significant negative impact.
CONCLUSIONS:
This paper identifies practices which students believe should be a
part of the CSR programmes for the pharmaceutical industry, and also some that
should be abandoned. It recommends that corporate communication on CSR should
be expanded. Key differences are seen in perceptions of students in Germany and
Russia towards the extent of irresponsible actions and the variation between
them.
The illusion of righteousness:
corporate social responsibility practices of the alcohol industry.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become an integral
element of how the alcohol industry promotes itself. The existing analyses of
CSR in the alcohol industry point to the misleading nature of these CSR
practices. Yet, research has been relatively sparse on how the alcohol industry
advances CSR in an attempt to facilitate underlying business interests, and in
what ways the ongoing display of industry CSR impacts public health. This paper
aims to investigate the alcohol industry's recent CSR engagements and explain
how CSR forms part of the industry's wider political and corporate strategies.
METHODS:
Our study used qualitative methods to collect and analyse data. We
searched for materials pertaining to CSR activities from websites of three
transnational alcohol corporations, social media platforms, media reports and
other sources. Relevant documents were thematically analysed with an iterative
approach.
RESULTS:
Our analysis identified three CSR tactics employed by the alcohol
companies which are closely tied in with the industry's underlying corporate
intents. First, the alcohol manufacturers employ CSR as a means to frame
issues, define problems and guide policy debates. In doing this, the alcohol
companies are able to deflect and shift the blame from those who manufacture
and promote alcoholic products to those who consume them. Second, the alcohol
corporations promote CSR initiatives on voluntary regulation in order to delay
and offset alcohol control legislation. Third, the alcohol corporations
undertake philanthropic sponsorships as a means of indirect brand marketing as
well as gaining preferential access to emerging alcohol markets.
CONCLUSIONS:
The increasing penetration and involvement of the alcohol industry
into CSR highlights the urgent needs for public health counter actions.
Implementation of any alcohol control measures should include banning or
restricting the publicity efforts of the industry's CSR and informing the
public of the alcohol industry's notion of social responsibility. More
significantly, an internationally binding instrument should be called for to
enable countries to differentiate between genuine concerns and spurious
altruism, and in doing so, resist the industry's attempt to erode alcohol
control.
Corporate social
responsibility in public health: A case-study on HIV/AIDS epidemic by Johnson
& Johnson company in Africa.
Abstract
HIV/AIDS has claimed millions of lives in the global workforce and
continues to remain a threat to many businesses. An estimated 36.5 million of
working people are living with HIV; the global workforce has lost 28 million
people from AIDS since the beginning of the epidemic. In the absence of access
to treatment, this number could grow to 74 million by 2015. The epidemic
continues to affect the working population through absenteeism, sickness and
death. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an obligation that corporates
have toward their employees, community and society. A review and documentation
of one such CSR by Johnson & Johnson (a multinational company) for HIV/AIDS
in Africa is presented here. Johnson & Johnson Company is involved in
numerous projects around the world to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The company
is working to fight the spread of the disease and improve the quality of life
for those living with the illness through various donations of its products and
sponsorship of local programs. This case study also highlights different
categories of CSR activities such as Cause Promotion, Cause related Marketing,
Corporate Philanthropy, Corporate Social Marketing, Corporate Volunteering and
Socially responsible business practices, which are discussed with specific
examples from different countries in Africa.
CONCLUSIONS:
CSR of any business encompasses the economic, legal, ethical &
discretionary expectation placed on the organization by society at a given
point of time. CSR is therefore the obligation that corporations have toward
their stakeholders and society in general which horizons beyond what is
prescribed by law or union contracts. Johnson & Johnson has a proved
history of being committed to caring for people and a good example of a company
with a long history of citizenship and sustainability.
KEYWORDS:
Corporate social responsibility; HIV epidemic has a
tremendous affect on labor, setting back economic activity and social
development. Majority of the people living with HIV worldwide are between 15
and 49 years in the prime of their working lives. Corporates should protect and
improve t; HIV/AIDS; Johnson & Johnson; cause promotion; corporate
volunteering; philanthropy; social marketing
-NCBI Resources Extract
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