Novartis Malaysia keeps Malaysians safe through Covid-19 pandemic
December 15,2021
- Over MYR 3 million in donation supported more than 210,300 frontline healthcare workers and at-risk communities in Malaysia through 2020 and 2021
- The leading medicines company and second biggest MNC in Malaysia provides significant contribution towards Covid-19 response in the country.
Kuala Lumpur, December 15,2021 – As a leading medicines company, Novartis Malaysia's purpose is to help 32 million Malaysians live longer and happier by ensuring access of treatments to patients across key therapeutic areas. Beyond patients, the organization further committed to keeping Malaysian frontliners and at-risk communities safe during the Covid-19 pandemic.
From 2020 to 2021, Novartis Malaysia contributed over MYR 3 million, keeping nearly 210,300 frontline healthcare workers and vulnerable communities nationwide safe from the outbreak. Through Mercy Malaysia, the donation went on to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) and hand sanitizers for 20 hospitals nationwide in 2020, rapid test kits for at-risk communities, and hardware support for vaccination centers.
In recognition of its commitment to Malaysians, the company was recently recognized by the American Chambers of Commerce at its AMCHAM Cares 2021 awards. At the luncheon reception, Country President and Managing Director Patrik Grande received the award on behalf of the company.
Grande remarked that it has been nearly 2 years since the pandemic, during which healthcare front-liners have been overwhelmed with Covid-19 patients and from vulnerable communities.
"We've had a long history and heritage in Malaysia. Beyond patients, we are committed to supporting Malaysians to live longer and happier lives.
"When the Covid-19 pandemic impacted Malaysia, we knew we couldn't just sit back and watch. We had to do our bit to keep Malaysians safe, especially frontliners and at-risk communities. Through Mercy Malaysia, we chanelled the funds into the most critical areas of support.
"As the Covid-19 situation transitions from pandemic to endemic, we intend to remain vigilant and support Malaysia and her people as needed," added Grande.
MERCY Malaysia has stepped forward to help these communities since the pandemic began by supporting health authorities to prevent and control infection, equipping rapid responders in investigations, contact tracing and testing, promoting good health and hygiene to reduce risk, and ensuring food security and livelihood protection to reduce the risk of hunger and mental illness.
"We wish to thank Novartis Malaysia for their contribution in support of the MERCY Malaysia COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. The donation has helped our efforts in mitigating the spread of the virus and extended much needed assistance to ease the burden to the country's healthcare services. Along the way, MERCY Malaysia was able to enhance our knowledge on humanitarian response, ensuring that vital services were delivered to the vulnerable populations within the crucial period,"said Malcolm George William Chapman, MERCY Malaysia Executive Director," said Malcolm George Wiliam Champman, MERCY Malaysia Executive Director.
Supporting Global Covid-19 Recovery Efforts
Globally, Novartis has also dedicated its efforts to combating Covid-19 such as by ensuring the stability of global healthcare systems with clinical including the commitment to donating up to USD 40 million to support communities around the world impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. The MYR 3 million contributed by Novartis Malaysia is accessed from this pool of global funding set-up specifically for Covid-19.
Additionally, Novartis is also helping to support the global supply of vaccines and therapeutics. By leveraging our production facilities, we are actively working with our global partners including the Covid-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, coordinated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust and Mastercard, as well as a partnership supported by the Innovative Medicines, and also participating with the University of California, Berkeley, and other pharmaceutical companies to develop an antiviral molecule to potentially treat all coronaviruses, including the virus that causes Covid-19. The pandemic has affected all of us and only through collaborative efforts, we will be able to come out on the other side.
About Novartis
Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world’s top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 108,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at https://www.novartis.com.
About Novartis Malaysia
Novartis Malaysia has been present in Malaysia since 1971. Following the merger of Sandoz and Ciba-Geigy, Novartis was formed in 1996. In 2015, Kuala Lumpur was chosen as one of the five Novartis Global Service Centres which delivers a broad variety of services to the Novartis group of companies worldwide. Services offered by the Kuala Lumpur team include IT, People & Organization Services, FRA Operations, Procurement Services, Real Estate & Facilities Services and CONEXTS contributor by Clinical Research Malaysia in sponsored research with 16 research projects, leading the market of other healthcare players in this sponsored research space.
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| Lim Chia Ying Senior Communications Manager [email protected] |