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  • Novartis sponsors expert talkshow to raise breast cancer awareness

    Novartis sponsors expert talkshow to raise breast cancer awareness

    The talk show “Spread the Belief Program”, organized by HCMC Oncology Hospital with Novartis’s support, has helped the audiences answer basic questions about breast cancer.

    Breast cancer ranks first among the most common cancers in women in the world and Vietnam. According to Global Cancer Statistics 2020, more than 2.2 million people worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer and about 680,000 people died from this disease in 2020.

    In Vietnam, breast cancer accounts for 25.8% of cancer cases in women with more than 21,555 new cases and 9,345 deaths in 2020.

    If the 5-year survival rate in the very early stage reaches 98%, in the late stage, this rate is only about 10%. More worryingly, breast cancer patients are getting younger.

    Due to psychological reasons, many people at risk – particularly women – tend to delay screening for early detection of breast cancer. The late detection of this disease makes treatment difficult, less efficient, and costly.

    Therefore, regular screening for timely diagnosis and detection is crucial to help patients actively choose treatment methods, increase treatment efficiency, and save costs.

    In order to support the community to update information about the disease, HCMC Oncology Hospital organized the “Breast Cancer Awareness Program” talk show with the sponsorship of Novartis Vietnam.

    This is also part of Novartis’ long-term commitment to ensuring easy access to treatment for patients through public health activities.

    Dr. Phan Thi Hong Duc, Head of the Internal Medicine Department of Breast, Gastroenterology, Liver and Urology, HCMC Oncology Hospital provided useful information about the disease during the talk show.

    The expert guest emphasized the importance and effectiveness and timely screening measures as well as medical advances in the treatment of breast cancer today.

    Although breast cancer is common and dangerous, patients still have the opportunity to treat and prevent the development of this disease.

    The March 2022 report of the American Cancer Society (ACS) found that 99% of those treated for breast cancer at the earliest stage live 5 years or longer after being diagnosed and the survival rate of people with metastatic breast cancer is 28% if treatment is maintained for a long time.

    Today’s medicine has made great strides in breast cancer treatments such as surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, combined with other treatments such as hormone therapy, biological therapy (targeted therapy), immunotherapy, and so on.

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  • Novartis campaign marks 10-year journey to improve Vietnamese family health

    Novartis campaign marks 10-year journey to improve Vietnamese family health

    A Novatis’s campaign has reached nearly 1.6 million people in 37 provinces and cities, providing them with information, examination and early treatment for chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.

    Novartis Vietnam collaborated with Vietnam Cardiovascular Foundation and the southern Long An Province to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the “Healthy Family” program on Nov. 11, marking a decade of accompanying Vietnamese people in improving health quality.

    The event was attended by representatives of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in Long An, Yen Bai, Bac Ninh, Phu Yen, Thai Nguyen, Dak Lak, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh provinces.

    To create opportunities for more people to have easy access to medical services, since 2012, Novartis has implemented “Healthy Family” program, with the companionship of Vietnam Cardiovascular Foundation and local health departments. The program cooperates with health centers to conduct screening sessions and disseminate information about hypertension and diabetes for people over 40 years old in districts across the country, with priority given to remote areas.

    By 2021, “Healthy Family” program has reached nearly 1.6 million people in 37 provinces and cities such as Lang Son, Bac Giang, Yen Bai, Bac Ninh, Phu Yen, Thai Nguyen, Khanh Hoa, Dak Lak, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Hau Giang, Dong Thap …

    Each year, the program reached approximately 200,000 people in 15 localities, with an annual budget of up to VND6-7 billion. Through the program, people could access basic knowledge about diseases and be screened for diabetes and hypertension.

    About 15-20% of participants were detected and diagnosed with signs of high blood pressure, 7-8% had high blood sugar and continued to be monitored at health stations.

    In addition, the program also strengthened the consulting capacity and expertise of local health workers, thereby improving the quality of community health care.

    “Overcoming geographical constraints, we implement “Healthy Family” program with the aim of helping people access good health services at an affordable cost. The 10-year journey has confirmed the sustainability and maintainability of the program as well as Novartis’ commitment to the health of Vietnamese people,” Carolyne Hall Director, Global Health Access Solution Center of Excellence, Novartis global, said.

    The Novartis representative also expressed her desire to expand the program scale year after year, with the first step of expanding to one more province each year, and at the same time, supplement interventions related to other chronic diseases such as heart failure and breast cancer.

    Grassroots medical care in remote areas

    Among the common chronic diseases, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are now four times the cause of death than infectious diseases. Not only in developed countries but also in developing ones, the risk factors for NCDs – such as sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets – are being multiplied.

    Hypertension and diabetes are two common non-communicable diseases and require regular and long-term treatment. According to statistics from the Ministry of Health, 60% of people with high blood pressure in Vietnam have not been detected and over 80% have not been treated. In recent years, this pathology is getting younger. Hypertension is considered a silent killer and is the leading cause of death.

    Diabetes is increasing steadily in recent years globally. According to statistics from the International Diabetes Federation, in 2017, approximately 425 milion people had dibetes in the world. In Vietnam, about 3.5 milion peoples had been living with this disease.

    However, access to primary care and resources are scarce in some remote localities. In provinces such as Bac Giang, Yen Bai, Lang Son, and Dak Lak… health stations are far away from where they live, traffic is obstructed, human resources for medical staff, doctors and medicines are still limited.

    Therefore, many people have missed the opportunity to be screened early, and missed the golden time for treatment. On the other hand, some refuse to get medical examination and treatment locally, leading to overcrowding at central hospitals. This is also part of the reason for the widespread burden on the medical care in Vietnam, and at the same time hinders the long-term improvement of Vietnamese people’s health.

    Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As a leading global medicines company, Novartis uses innovative science and digital technologies to transform treatments in areas of great medical need.

    Novartis products reach nearly 800 million people globally. About 11

  • Novartis receives certificate of merit from Vietnam’s Ministry of Health

    Novartis receives certificate of merit from Vietnam’s Ministry of Health

    Novartis has marked its 25 years of development with a certificate of merit from Vietnam’s Ministry of Health for its social commitment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

    “This achievement affirms Novartis’s leading position in the global pharmaceutical market and its long-term commitment to community health support,” a Novartis representative stated.

    Over the past 25 years, Novartis has achieved medical breakthroughs in cancer care, heart disease and the fight against inflammatory conditions. The company uses innovative science and technology to address some of society’s most challenging healthcare issues. It discovers and develops breakthrough treatments and finds new ways to deliver them to as many people as possible.

    Partner of Vietnam’s healthcare

    Novartis began its journey in Vietnam in the 1950s through the presence of Sandoz, Ciba-Geigy, and other partners. Over the past two decades in the country, Novartis Vietnam has cooperated with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and domestic and international organizations to launch several programs to enhance public health awareness, promote training, and strengthen primary healthcare in many cities and provinces.

    In 2008, the representative office of Novartis Pharma Services AG was established in Vietnam to promote and support the supply of medicines, and delivery of drugs to patients, as well as clinical trials of Novartis Group.

    Over the past 13 years, Novartis Vietnam has been focusing on four areas including science-based innovation and clinical trials; scientific and academic cooperation; quality and local manufacturing, along patient access to high-quality, innovative healthcare.

    The company has collaborated with the MoH to develop a strong healthcare system that covers the lowest income segments of the population and to provide the Vietnamese people with high-quality medicines, thus contributing to the MoH’s objective to shape a strong and sustainable healthcare system and achieve universal healthcare coverage.

    A lot of significant programs have been carried out over the past years. In 2014, Novartis and the MoH signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance the Vietnamese people’s access to essential, affordable generic and innovative medicines, and strengthen the country’s science, medical, and technology capabilities

    It is followed by another MoU inked in December 2019 on raising primary healthcare in Vietnam through activities at commune and district levels from 2019 to 2021, making it a testament to public-private collaboration in this area, aiming to achieve the Universal Healthcare Coverage and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

    2020 marked a special milestone in Novartis Vietnam’s development journey when it inaugurated its new legal entity in the country and became one of the first multinational companies to successfully transform from a representative office to a foreign-invested enterprise importer. Also that year, the company was honored as a pioneer in digital transformation for its efforts and outstanding contributions to the Digital Transformation of the Healthcare Sector at National Digital Transformation Congress.

    Moreover, Novartis Vietnam teamed up with Docquity to offer an exclusive digital network for medical staff. The company has also been named among the top 100 Vietnam Best Places to Work in the country thanks to its appropriate human resource policies and quick response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    In 2021, the company keeps the momentum of good performance with its recognition as a Global Top Employer for 2021, thus contributing to encouraging Novartis to continue attracting talents and strengthening its offering as a destination for employers in the future.

    Contributions to the Covid-19 fight

    Novartis received the certificate of merit from the MoH for its social commitment during the Covid-19 pandemic and its contributions to the country’s Covid fight, and training of HCPs, among others.

    Novartis supports the initiative of six medical universities in Vietnam to train HCPs to serve Covid-19 prevention and control. At least 1,800 final-year medical students got training from April to July 2020. This effort was in response to the call of the government and the MoH, mobilizing more than 90,000 HCPs for the pandemic fight.

    Moreover, the company has so far donated over $400,000 to the pandemic battle in Vietnam. The company also joined hands with other members of EuroCham Pharma Group to donate an equivalent total of $100,000 to the Vietnam Fatherland Front national campaign on the prevention and treatment of Covid-19, and donate via the HCMC Red Cross Society medical supplies to frontline hospitals, and Covid-19 treatment centers.

    During the pandemic, Novartis has taken effective measures to ensure the continuation of the supply of medicines, as well as promote technology application to maintain regular medical training for HCPs, thus ensuring healthcare access.

    Amitabh Dube, country president, Novartis Vietnam, said: “Vietnam and countries worldwide are still facing pressing health issues that need more innovations to address them. Novartis commits to be a reliable partner in this effort, and will continue the discovery and development of new treatments to help more people.”

    Long-term investment commitments

    Novartis’s strategy is to build a leading, focused pharmaceutical company powered by advanced therapy platforms and data science. Looking at the next 25 years and beyond, the company will continue reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives.

    To implement the strategy, Novartis has five priorities to shape its future and help it continue to create value for the company, its shareholders and society: unleash the power of its people; deliver transformative innovation; embrace operational excellence; go big on data and digital; and build trust with society.

    In Vietnam, the company will continue to collaborate with Vietnamese societies, associations, and health facilities in programs to improve healthcare services for Vietnamese, showing its strong commitment to accompanying the local health sector in future sustainable development.

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