## [Access](/esg/access "Access") Expanding access to medicines and healthcare one step at a time. Through our core business – the discovery, development and marketing of innovative treatments – we have helped prevent and treat diseases, ease suffering and improve quality of life for people worldwide. But as the size and complexity of the world’s healthcare challenges grow, we must widen our scope, extending our impact even further by asking: How can we effectively address the needs of underserved populations? How can we bring the benefits of our medicines to more people? And how can we do this in a way that is sustainable for our business? It begins with a fundamental shift in the way we do business – with reimagining new ways to bridge the divide between those with access to critical healthcare innovations and those without. We are committed to bringing more of our medicines to more people. For all our new medicines, we aim to systematically integrate access strategies in how we research, develop and deliver them globally, to reach underserved patients. This is a key measure of success for our leaders and employees. At Novartis, we are providing access to innovative medicines under review or not yet approved locally, when no other treatment options are available. [ ![A patient gets a checkup for his diabetes ](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cards_50_50/public/2021-09/novartis-access-principles.jpg.webp?itok=R94U76fn "A patient gets a checkup for his diabetes ") ### Novartis Access Principles We are committed to expanding access to our medicines to underserved patient populations around the world, while addressing major global health challenges. ](/esg/access/novartis-access-principles) [ ![Pharmacist handing prescription to customer](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cards_50_50/public/2022-02/pharmacist-handing-prescription-to-customer.jpg.webp?itok=pMRh1iCq "Pharmacist handing prescription to customer") ### Value-based pricing We aim to price our medicines according to the value they deliver to patients, healthcare systems and society. ](/esg/access/value-based-pricing) [ ![Monitor pay equity with global consistency](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cards_1_3/public/2021-09/epic-commitment-1-image.jpg.webp?itok=-QVdKT_k "Monitor pay equity with global consistency") ### Creating sustainable business models We believe scalable, self-sustaining social business approaches have the potential to better address global public health needs. ](/esg/access/creating-sustainable-business-models) [ ![Women carry water in a rural zone of Africa](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cards_1_3/public/2021-10/women-carry-water-rural-africa.jpg.webp?itok=Gm3ksQOQ "Women carry water in a rural zone of Africa") ### Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) SSA has the largest underserved population in the world. Novartis is deploying innovative approaches to increase patient reach. ](/esg/access/sub-saharan-africa) [ ![A doctor talks to a heart patient](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cards_1_3/public/2021-09/cardio-metabolic-heart-patient.jpg.webp?itok=C35yTNkU "Heart patient with doctor") ### Novartis Oncology Access (NOA) Novartis Oncology Access (NOA) is a sustainable access solution which is designed to improve access to cancer medicines in countries with very limited healthcare reimbursement systems. ](/esg/access/novartis-oncology-access) ![Infant patient being held by a healthcare professional during examination ](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cta_image/public/2022-12/compassionate-use-heroimage1.png.webp?itok=4VJQxWKU "Infant patient being held by a healthcare professional during examination") ## Compassionate use: Providing access to much needed treatments What happens when a patient’s only treatment hope rests with a promising but not yet locally approved therapy? At Novartis, we are providing a lifeline of access to innovative medicines under review or not yet approved locally when no other treatment options are available. [Read more](/stories/compassionate-use-providing-access-much-needed-treatments "Read more") [ ![Business people working in a dark room](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cards_50_50/public/2021-09/business-people-meeting-room-at-night.jpg.webp?itok=jk5qM85Y "Business people working in a dark room") ### Patents and Licensing Novartis does not seek or enforce patents in least developed countries, and takes a patient-centric approach to patent filing in lower-middle income countries. ](/esg/access/patents-and-licensing) [ ![Young boy looking at fireflies](/sites/novartis_com/files/styles/cards_50_50/public/2023-04/portrait-young-boy-looking-at-fireflies.jpg.webp?itok=HcoVQXO_ "Young boy looking at fireflies") ### Donations We continue to engage in strategic donations to address access gaps for neglected diseases and people at the bottom of the pyramid. ](/esg/access/donations)