Proper treatment of diabetes is an investment in health that will pay off not just for people with diabetes, but also in a wider societal perspective. Radical innovation is much in demand to bring a halt to the alarming upward curve of diabetes prevalence. Part of the solution is likely to be found through partnerships across sectors and inventive approaches.

We believe that Novo Nordisk can play a leading role in helping people with diabetes around the world achieve greater access to health. We recognise that provision of medicine alone does not solve the problems. Insulin therapy and improved care are part of the solution – but so is an understanding of the person behind the disease, improved education and greater awareness.

Pursuing our goal of defeating diabetes, we are teaming up with partners who share our concern and who can contribute to making more sustainable solutions. We wish to be recognised as the preferred partner in leading the fight against diabetes worldwide and as a responsible pharmaceutical company. That is why Novo Nordisk has invested in setting up the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism. Its purpose is to develop future healthcare models for chronic diseases, including prevention models. We have also teamed up with the University of Oxford and the World Health Organization (WHO) in creating the Oxford Vision 2020 process.

Novo Nordisk has chosen to build its strategy for improved access to diabetes care on WHO’s four priorities for access to health. The strategy is implemented in close collaboration between our regional offices and affiliates in 69 countries. Via this global/local approach, we can multiply efforts by bringing our collective resources into play. In order to measure impacts systematically, targets are defined and tracked via the corporate Balanced Scorecard.

Learning from people with diabetes, the DAWN (Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes and Needs) programme illustrates how the stakeholder approach enables us to focus on the person behind the disease. This understanding supports development of new products and services. Also, the DAWN findings highlight the importance of raising awareness and knowledge through education and constant learning about the psychosocial sideeffects of diabetes.

Novo Nordisk is working with ministries of health, patient organisations, healthcare providers and experts in the fields of economics, epidemiology and other related disciplines. The National Diabetes Programme – in both the developed and developing worlds – provides many examples of how this strategy is implemented in the countries where we are active.

To make treatment affordable, Novo Nordisk has adopted a best possible pricing scheme. It allows Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to purchase insulin at a price not to exceed 20% of the average price in the industrialised countries.

Even at significantly reduced prices, the availability of insulin cannot in itself provide treatment for the poorest people. That is why additional funding is required. In 2001, Novo Nordisk established the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) to help meet the needs of these people. In some cases Novo Nordisk and the WDF are working together to build synergies, such as when building an infrastructure for diabetes care in Tanzania.

Strategies for access to health
(Click to view pdf file)