Health: The business of life and death

February 01, 2002

Health link to macroeconomics

The lives of eight million people a year could be saved and billions in economic growth created through a series of welltargeted measures costing only 0.1% of rich nations GDP, according to a report released by the World Health Organisation on December 20. Arguing that good health is an essential component of economic growth, the WHO says 0.1% of GDP currently equates to about 627 billion, while yearly economic benefits of more than 6360 billion could be generated by 2015-2020.

Meanwhile G8, which represents leaders from eight of the world’s main industrialised nations, announced at the beginning of February that it is creating a 6500 million fund to help African countries – part of which will address the continent’s health crisis. Contact Gregory Hartl, WHO, on 00 41 22 791 4458 (http://www.who.int)

TB and malaria on business hit list

The thirty international companies comprising the Global Health Initiative describe the action they are taking to combat tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS in a summary report on 2001, published at the end of January to coincide with the World Economic Forum. The 2001 report includes a summary of the impact on business of infectious diseases and the opportunities for companies to partner health-related initiatives, with the goal of achieving a 50% cut in TB and malaria and 25% in HIV by 2010. The report builds on an HIV/AIDS conference organised by the International Chamber of Commerce on December 6, at which companies were urged to make the fight against the pandemic a core business issue because of its bottom line impact. Contact Claudia Gonzalez, WEF, on 00 1 917 578 5207 (http://www.weforum.org); Bryce Corbett, ICC, on 00 33 1 49 53 29 87 (http://www.iccwbo.org)

GSK helps in elephantiasis fight

The role of GlaxoSmithKline in helping to combat lymphatic filariasis – popularly known as elephantiasis – is profiled in a new book by the independent journalist, Malcolm Dean, published on January 7. In addition to making product donations to combat the disease, the book chronicles how the company has used its financial resources and intellectual capital over the past three years to assist the crosssector Lymphatic Filariasis Alliance in its mission to eradicate the disease. Contact Claire Hitchcock, GSK, on 020 8975 2000 (http://www.gsk.com/community) #Increase in stress levels# Stress-related cases against UK employers are rising exponentially, according to figures released by the TUC at the end of January, which show that legal claims climbed from 516 in 1999 to 6,428 in 2000. The extent of the problem is confirmed in a survey by Investors in People, which finds that one in five employees cites stress as the biggest barrier to improved productivity. Published on January 11, the report also reveals only one in ten employers recognises that stress has a negative impact on staff performance. This discrepancy is partly explained, according to a paper by the Institute of Employment Studies also issued in January, by the lack of effective measures to evaluate stress levels. Yet, the Health and Safety Executive is not daunted, suggesting that employers can dramatically reduce work stress by ensuring they promote effective teamworking. According to a guide released by HSE in December, successful team dynamics can decrease stress in the workplace by enabling greater job autonomy, skill variety and feedback. Contact Owen Tudor, TUC, on 020 7467 1325 (http://www.tuc.org.uk); Kate Love, IIP, on 020 7255 5488 (http://www.iipuk.co.uk); Jo Rick, IES, on 07970 448 537 (http://www.employmentstudies. co.uk); HSE Books on 01787 881165(http://www.hse.gov.uk)

news in brief

A new BBC online service is informing people about basic first aid, part of the Learning and Skills Council’s Learn to Save a Life campaign, which aims to teach 20,000 adults about first aid by the end of March. Contact Sue Lawrence, LSC, on 0771 803 1399 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/ health/firstaid) #Pfizer disclosed on December 11 that it is to donate 6200 million-worth of product and technical support over the next twoyears to the International Trachoma Initiative for its work countering the disease in Morocco. Contact Jonathan Struthers, ITI, on 00 1 212 490 6460 (http://www.pfizer.com)

Aventis is sponsoring the medical section of the online Nobel e-museum over the next three years. The interactive educational site highlights the link between research and practical applications in medicine.Cisco Systems is lead spnsor of the e-museum initiative. Contact Felicitas Feick, Aventis, on 00 49 69 305 4995 (http://www.aventis.com)

Editorial Comment

Robert Davies makes the point well in his guest editorial: health issues are not just for healthcare companies. At home, thanks to the tax-funded National Health Service, few UK companies see the health of their employees as an issue for corporate social responsibility. CSR or not, stress (much of it work-related) nonetheless costs them dear, as these studies show. Abroad, health is a matter of basic economics, as the latest WHO report makes clear. It is also a matter of basic humanity. The facts are stunning. Today two billion people have tuberculosis, and 30 million will die from it over the next decade. Around 2.3 billion are at risk from malaria infection and the numbers dying are going up, not down: 2,200 children die each day. Some 35 million people live with HIV/AIDS, with two million dying a year. And 120 million have Lymphatic Filariasis, with a further 1.2 billion at risk of infection.

That makes the GSK commitment to eradicate the LF disease so inspiring ¨C up to six billion tablets over 20 years, and a huge alliance to deliver the programme on the ground. In the first five years, GSK and Merck are providing drugs worth 6400 million. A further 6600 million is needed in support costs. Only one other disease has been successfully eliminated before small pox. The big pharmaceutical companies see the situation clearly. After all, they are under daily pressure to answer the question how can you make profits when so many are dying? Yet the challenge is so huge it goes way beyond them and their drug donation programmes. Yet only 30 companies have joined the Global Health Alliance. Surely this crisis affects us all.

Corporate Citizenship Briefing, issue no: 62 – February, 2002

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