Novartis in the Philippines

Novartis in the Philippines was incorporated in 1996, following the merger of the global parent companies Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz. Novartis Healthcare Philippines, Inc. is one of the leading research-based pharmaceutical companies in the country, providing innovative, life-saving medicines to patients.

Novartis has made substantial contributions to support the Philippine economy and improve health outcomes of Filipinos:

Economy

In 2021, Novartis contributed PHP 8.1 billion to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the Philippines. Sixteen percent of the company's total GDP contribution stems from innovation.

Employment

The company has opened up more employment opportunities for Filipinos and is providing broader leadership exposure to local talents. In 2021, its business operations created a total of 9,240 local jobs, including the employment of 441 Filipino associates (as of July 1, 2021).

Novartis has been officially recognized by the Top Employers Institute as a Top Employer in the Philippines for two consecutive years (2021 and 2022). To become recognized as a Top Employer, an organization must demonstrate its commitment to putting their people first through their exceptional human resource (HR) policies. Top Employers Institute is the global authority on recognizing excellence in people practices.

R&D

In 2021, Novartis invested PHP 104 million in 27 clinical trials, benefitting 131 patients in Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Metabolism, Immunology, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Neuroscience and Oncology. The company also established 5 Centers of Excellence for Clinical Trials in local hospitals and research institutes.

Access to medicines

In 2021, the full Novartis portfolio of medicines reached over 2.5 million Filipino patients. 1.4 million Filipino patients who took 80 Novartis medicine brands gained a total of 10,031 quality-adjusted life-year (QALYs). QALY is a generic measure of disease burden, including both the quality and the quantity of life lived. It is used in economic evaluation to assess the value of medical interventions. One QALY equates to one year in perfect health.

Support to national pandemic and calamity response

Novartis focused on supporting and protecting frontline workers and patients, and expanding the healthcare system's COVID-19 testing and treatment capacity.

The company donated over PHP 20 million worth of PPEs, test kits and food packs to help frontline workers. It collaborated with partner providers for home delivery of patients’ medicines.

With key stakeholders in the government and private sector, the company organized webinars to educate Filipinos on heart failure care amid the pandemic, and to address vaccine hesitancy.

Novartis donated PHP500,000 to support relief and rehabilitation of communities impacted by super typhoon Odette, the strongest typhoon to strike the Philippines in 2021 which disrupted the lives of more than seven million people.

Through this donation, our partner PHAPCares Foundation distributed sacks of rice benefitting 2,000 families in Del Carmen, Surigao Del Norte. The donation will also cover the construction materials for the rehabilitation of a health center in Del Carmen, a 5th class municipality affected by typhoon Odette.

Download the infographic on Novartis contributions to Philippine health and economy.