Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development
The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD) has focused on improving the standard of health in developing countries for more than 30 years.
The Novartis Foundation works to improve access to healthcare through projects in developing countries. NFSD also serves as a think tank on issues of human rights and health, and connects the private and public sector in dialogue and networking activities. NFSD's total contributions and programs in 2011 were valued at USD 10 million and reached 3.7 million patients globally.
Our commitments in action
Improving access to healthcare: primary care in sub-Saharan Africa
A comprehensive primary healthcare project in rural Mali assesses and improves the quality of health services, as well as increases access through community health insurance funds and women's saving groups. NFSD runs a similar program focused on malaria in Tanzania.
Novartis has committed to donate multidrug therapy for tuberculosis, delivering a total of 500 000 treatments to all adult patients in Tanzania until 2012. The Novartis Foundation has introduced a patient-centric approach to improve treatment success rates. The approach gives patients the choice to be treated at a health facility or at home.
Strengthening human resources in healthcare: telemedicine in Ghana
In Ghana, the Novartis Foundation collaborates with the Millennium Villages Project and the Ministry of Health on a telemedicine project to improve access to primary healthcare. Telemedicine uses information and communication technology, such as computers, to exchange medical information for prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Empowering vulnerable groups: providing psychosocial support for children in southern Africa
NFSD supports the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) for children affected by HIV/AIDS, poverty and conflict in southern Africa. In cooperation with other groups, the initiative helps children and households escape extreme poverty. To date, REPSSI has reached over five million children.
