Johnson & Johnson - IndexJohnson & Johnson - report - IndexPROFILES IN COMMITMENT
For the world’s largest health care company, sustainability has a wide range of meanings. It means
maximizing the opportunity for low-income patients — including those in the least-developed
countries — to get affordable access to life-sustaining therapies. It means supporting health
care professionals. It means adhering to the strictest standards of regulatory compliance. It means
conducting responsible research. It means finding ways to do business without degrading
environmental quality. And it means much more.
Indeed, sustainability means a commitment to improving environmental quality while promoting
social equity. In years to come, nothing less will be required of the world’s best corporate citizens.
To put a human face on our commitment to sustainability, we interviewed a group of
Johnson & Johnson employees about their goals, their challenges, and their recent activities,
particularly those that involve engagement with stakeholders.
PROFILES IN COMMITMENT
Improving Access
to Health Care
Sus
Sustainability at Johnson & Johnson means we recognize our role in connecting
underserved patients who need assistance, with our health care products.
There are multiple ways to address this gap, including patient assistance
programs, philanthropy, support for sound public policies on health care,
and the furtherance of strong infrastructure to deliver health care.
There is no single solution, but improved access ultimately lies in a combination of
approaches, innovative products and caring businesses. We spoke to two employees
who are passionate about our sustainability activities related to access. Denise Sitarik,
Vice President, Janssen-Ortho Patient Assistance Foundation has a U.S. perspective.
Julie McHugh, Company Group Chairman, Virology offered the global perspective.
Denise, Johnson & Johnson believes all people
Q: should have access to high-quality health care.
How does the Company work to achieve this?
SITARIK: I’m pleased to report that in 2007, ACCESS2WELLNESS™,
a platform that provides a single point of entry to our assistance
programs, as well as links to other industry and public
programs, was launched. Over the years, the number of patient
assistance programs increased and the process of finding and
navigating them became complex. Our ACCESS2WELLNESS™
PROFILES IN COMMITMENT
website (www.access2wellness.com) and call center are
designed to make it easier for patients, caregivers and health
care professionals to access available resources, evaluate
eligibility, and apply for assistance. Industry patient assistance
programs offer qualified uninsured and underinsured
individuals access to more than 1,000 free or discounted
prescription medications.
Additionally, for nearly two decades, Johnson & Johnson
operating companies have provided free medicines to millions
of patients in the U.S., with more than 6.5 million units
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