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Public policy

Companies have long engaged in lobbying or advocacy to influence public policy as a legitimate business activity to promote their commercial interests and those of their shareholders. It is also in the interests of business to help solve today’s main societal challenges and to take a progressive and significant role in the formulation of public policy. In doing so, industry’s public policy activities can be a force for good and contribute to broader social, environmental or economic goals. However, such activities must be conducted ethically and transparently in order to earn the trust of stakeholders.

Government Affairs

Through our Government Affairs work, we seek to promote diabetes-related public policy initiatives, to protect and expand our product position with respect to coverage and reimbursement, and to continue to increase the visibility of Novo Nordisk with policy-makers. A cross-organisational External Affairs Board with more than 20 focus groups oversees areas of critical importance for Novo Nordisk, particularly in the realm of new regulatory demands. A range of other staff members are also actively engaged in government affairs or external affairs as part of their work. The activities of two of Novo Nordisk’s largest government affairs units, one in the US and another in Europe, are profiled below.

Performance 2006

As a world leader in diabetes care Novo Nordisk has a unique understanding of the scale and nature of the challenges involved in addressing the global diabetes epidemic. This also entails a responsibility to play an active role in addressing these challenges. In 2006 Novo Nordisk established a global Public Affairs capability with the overall aim of rallying adequate political support to tackle the diabetes epidemic.

Novo Nordisk’s global Public Affairs ambition represents a new industry philosophy by focusing on sustainable public health policies. Diabetes costs national economies billions in lost productivity and strains even the strongest healthcare systems. And people with diabetes pay an even higher price because it diminishes their ability to live a full and productive life – and hence diminishes their quality of life. Thus, lobbying for prevention, early diagnosis and proper diabetes treatment is the main focus of our Public Affairs work.

A UN Resolution on diabetes

On 20 December 2006 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted, by consensus, a Resolution on diabetes. Since the launch six months earlier of the ‘Unite for Diabetes’ campaign, led by the International Diabetes Federation, Novo Nordisk had been actively advocating the importance of such a resolution, which encourages Member States to develop national policies for the prevention, treatment and care of diabetes. One of our main contributions to the campaign was the Changing Diabetes Bus, which will continue its mission to show support for the Resolution and raise awareness about diabetes.

Government Affairs at Novo Nordisk Inc.

Novo Nordisk’s largest Government Affairs office in Washington DC continues to grow. It employs five full-time professional staff who work with federal and state policy-makers. The most recent position added to the staff is a Medicare and Medicaid policy and reimbursement expert. The focus of the office is to pursue the company's business goals of coverage and reimbursement of products as well as Novo Nordisk’s Triple Bottom Line agenda. By working with policy-makers to improve diabetes prevention, detection, treatment and care, Novo Nordisk seeks to make a positive contribution to changing diabetes and at the same time enhance its position as a leading diabetes company in the US. The office primarily promotes a patient focus designed to dramatically improve diabetes outcomes in the US.

Some of the key 2006 achievements included:

  • The development of a national effort to promote Medicare screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes. Co-led by Novo Nordisk and the American Diabetes Association, more than a dozen patient and professional organisations have joined this initiative. Novo Nordisk has made a three-year, million-dollar commitment to pursue this as part of the Clinton Global Initiative.  
  • Support for the development and promotion of ‘Diabetes and Obesity 2025’, a report published by the Institute of Alternative Futures that outlines the increase in people with diabetes in the United States that will occur if policy-makers do not address the issue today. The report, which presents 10 steps to reverse the diabetes epidemic, was released at a Capitol Hill Seminar to 100 staff and members of Congress in July.
  • The development for the first time of a Novo Nordisk capability to monitor and intervene with comments in the Medicare regulation process. Novo Nordisk submitted nine major sets of comments on federal agency regulations relating to company or policy initiatives.
  • The establishment of a significant state presence through our support of the National Governors Association Health States Initiative, active involvement in the Healthy Georgia Diabetes Project and in diabetes programmes in Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas, each of which is designed to improve diabetes prevention, detection and/or treatment.
  • Continuing to focus attention on the challenge of diabetes in ethnic minority groups by supporting Capitol Hill and community activities aimed at policy-makers in the African American, Native American and Hispanic communities.
  • Hosting the entire Novo Nordisk Government Accounts sales team for a 'Lobby Day' that included training and visits with more than 60 congressional offices to promote a call to action to promote diabetes screening in Medicare. The account executives' lobbying visits helped lead to separate House and Senate letters to HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt urging him to promote diabetes screening.
  • On behalf of the Health Institute of New Jersey, hosting at the Novo Nordisk Princeton Headquarters a visit and discussion on health issues by HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt with New Jersey CEOs from across the state.

Changing Diabetes Political Action Committee

One of the most significant achievements in 2006 was the creation of the Novo Nordisk Inc. Changing Diabetes Political Action Committee (PAC), which is a voluntary political fund supported solely by eligible Novo Nordisk employees. The PAC provides financial support to political candidates (as permitted by law) who share the company’s views on public policy issues. The Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes PAC is strictly non-partisan and is not affiliated to any political party. In short, it is about changing diabetes, haemophilia and the other healthcare needs that Novo Nordisk serves. It provides financial support for political candidates – regardless of party affiliation – who share the company’s views on important issues and policies that affect Novo Nordisk and the communities it serves. 

The Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes PAC is organised as a voluntary committee providing eligible employees of Novo Nordisk with the opportunity to join together to participate in the democratic process. The PAC supports candidates who promote the highest standards of excellence for the healthcare industry as well as quality service in the government.

Some of the criteria that are used to select candidates to receive contributions include:

  • Voting record on legislative issues affecting Novo Nordisk
  • Support for the healthcare industry
  • Ability to be a catalyst for change
  • Representation of Novo Nordisk employees in states where the company has facilities or a significant employee presence
  • Financial need
  • Leadership and integrity

The decision to contribute to the Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes PAC is voluntary.  An employee may refuse to contribute without reprisal; Novo Nordisk will neither favour nor disadvantage any employee by virtue of his or her participation or non-participation.  Federal law requires the Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes PAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and name of employer for individuals whose contributions exceed 200 US dollars in a calendar year. 

Contributions to the Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes PAC will be used for political purposes and are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal tax purposes.

The Government Affairs function will continue to work to increase the company's voice among Congressional leaders and the executive branch to elevate diabetes on the national agenda. 

Government Affairs Europe

In late 2005 Novo Nordisk Region Europe decided to put more focus on public affairs at both EU and national level. In key European affiliates public affairs managers were hired and a European Public Affairs Board was established to coordinate our government affairs work in Europe and to ensure practice-sharing. The objectives are to support Novo Nordisk’s vision and business goals by ensuring full market access, and to support a favourable policy framework for pricing and reimbursement of Novo Nordisk products. The main focus is diabetes.

In 2006 Novo Nordisk worked actively to support:

  • The Vienna Declaration, the outcome of a conference on prevention of type 2 diabetes held in February 2006 in Vienna. This followed the Austrian EU Presidency placing diabetes on the agenda of the EU Health Council. The Declaration made proposals for an EU strategy on diabetes prevention, early detection and management, and for coordinated national diabetes plans implemented in a timely fashion in all Member States as an essential way of responding adequately to diabetes.
  • EU Parliament Written Declaration on diabetes, adopted in April 2006. This document called for Member States to develop national diabetes plans and for the European Commission and EU Health Council to develop an EU national diabetes strategy on the basis of an EU Council Recommendation on diabetes prevention, diagnosis and control.
  • The EU Health Council Conclusions on promotion of healthy lifestyles and prevention of type 2 diabetes, adopted in June 2006 as a result of the previous declarations. The text, which was adopted unanimously, recognises the urgent need to address diabetes in Europe. This is the first time that diabetes has been clearly recognised by the EU Health Council as a major public health concern in Europe. Conclusions in themselves are not binding but are used to encourage both Member States and the EU Commission to act on a given subject.
  • In Germany, healthcare authorities decided to no longer reimburse rapid-acting and premixed modern insulins for type 2 diabetes, stating that the higher price was not justified. Novo Nordisk opposed this decision and is now negotiating individually with the country’s 250 plus health insurance funds to win reimbursement by demonstrating the value of rapid-acting and premixed insulin in terms of improved patient outcome, quality of life, and reduced complications. Rapid-acting insulin is used by some 350,000 Germans today. Click here to download the article: 'Advocating sustainable healthcare' from the 2006 Annual Report (PDF).In Italy, Novo Nordisk has been in partnership with the Minister of Health, scientific associations and patient associations on implementing the DAWN programme. In Italy’s National Operative Plan on diabetes, the DAWN programme is cited as a strategic point.
  • In the UK, Novo Nordisk has been working with patient groups to raise political awareness of the impact of haemorrhagic stroke, especially among younger people. In 2006 the UK Department of Health announced a new National Strategy on Stroke that will prioritise rapid access to brain-scanning and ensure that the administration of new treatments is possible.

Novo Nordisk will continue to work on increasing disease awareness, and exchange ideas and thoughts with policy-makers in the EU and on national level.  

Novo Nordisk’s approach

Novo Nordisk supports the principle of responsible lobbying and the adoption of practices and policies encouraging greater openness, transparency and accountability within corporate public policy activities. 

In our public policy work we seek to ensure that the voice of the company, its employees and the people whose healthcare needs we serve is heard in the public policy arena. This includes supporting our products and services as well as areas of public policy that are vital to the company's long-term commercial interests. For example, we take an active stand in the democratic debate on issues such as stem cell research, animal welfare, human rights, corporate governance, responsible business practices, funding of scientific research, access to health, and disease prevention. Novo Nordisk's public positions can be found here.

In addition, Novo Nordisk voices its perspectives through its membership of industry associations, international networks, local business organisations and other third-party alliances. The company has a long tradition of partnerships, eg in medical research. We do not support any political party and/or religious movement, financially or otherwise.

We work together with governments and other partners to improve diabetes care, using our expertise and competence in diabetes to address the barriers to better care. Examples of the company's engagement with politicians, regulators and other officials include:

  • Oxford Health Alliance, which aims to raise awareness and change behaviours and policies regarding chronic disease prevention. This involves direct engagement with governments, and the coordination of advocacy initiatives among numerous stakeholder groups.
  • World Diabetes Foundation (WDF), an independent, non-profit foundation created by Novo Nordisk, addresses diabetes in the developing world. The majority of WDF projects include engagement with local politicians or other policy-makers.  
  • DAWN, a global initiative to overcome the psychosocial barriers to effective self-management of diabetes. DAWN includes a focus on advocacy and has engaged with politicians, officials and regulators in the US, the UK, Denmark, France, Italy, Egypt, Australia and the European Parliament to promote patient involvement in diabetes care.
  • Support of the United Nations Resolution on diabetes, which was passed on 20 December 2006.
  • Support of the Diabetes Declaration and Strategy for Africa. Novo Nordisk provided financial and logistical support for this joint WHO/International Diabetes Federation initiative, and participated in discussions with policy-makers and key opinion leaders. The initiative aims to raise community and political awareness about diabetes, and to improve diabetes care by working through a coalition of individuals, community, corporations and governments.
  • Each year since 2002 Novo Nordisk has partnered with stakeholders to organise EU Diabetes Week meetings in Brussels with the aim of engaging MEPs and EU officials in awareness-raising and policy discussion.

Major memberships

Europe

US

 

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