Basel, 09 May 2017- Philippine Ambassador to Switzerland Joselito A. Jimeno visited the Novartis campus in Basel and met with its officials to explore possible cooperation particularly in the area of vocational-technical education and training, and expansion of existing programs in the Philippines to new fields and partner health/medical institutions. Novartis is the second largest pharmaceutical company in the world based on the 2016 survey.
Photo (L-R): Dr. Colin Pillai, Head of Global Scientific Capabilities, Novartis Global Drug Development; Dr. Fareed Mirza, Head of Research, Novartis Foundation;
Ms. Couzette Kleynhans, Head of International Public Affairs, Novartis International AG; Ambassador Joselito A. Jimeno; and Minister and Consul General Maria Theresa S.M. Lazaro
During the visit, Novartis officials gave a briefing on the company’s programs in the Philippines, including existing partnership/cooperation with government and private institutions, which include, among others, capacity-building initiatives and provision of affordable medicines to low and mid-income families.
On capacity building, Novartis supports the Leprosy Alert and Response Network System (LEARNS), which enables frontline health workers to help early detection of leprosy lesions on patients by sending images to specialists through mobile phone, enabling early detection and educing delays in diagnosis. Through the program, more than 3,000 health workers in the Philippines have been trained to date.
Apart from the LEARNS program, Novartis also supports the Next Generation Scientist Program pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement with the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST). The program aims to assist Filipino scientists and researchers on drug discovery and development of technologies.
Novartis also recently concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Glaucoma Society aimed at promoting awareness on glaucoma and regular eye examination, as well as at providing continuing medical education to Filipino ophthalmologists.
The pharmaceutical giant also assists St. Luke’s Medical Center, one of the leading medical institutions in the Philippines, in maintaining its status as a center of excellence in clinical trials through the provision of support for research and development of medicines. Up to 2016, Novartis had spent around CHF9.68mn in clinical trials in the Philippines, most of which were in cardiovascular medicine and pulmonary medicine. The company has also conducted laboratory visits to the University of the Philippines’ campuses in Diliman and Manila to help improve laboratory environment and make it conducive for collaboration and communication among scientists.
Photo (L-R): Joy Jalmasco Leuthard, Head C&B Principles and Processes, HR; Ambassador Joselito A. Jimeno; Gilbert Verkuijlen, Head Patient Access, AMAC Region;
Ms. Couzette Kleynhans; Mr. Marcel Rutz, Consultant, Novartis Insurance Services; and Minister and Consul General Tess Lazaro
Ambassador Jimeno discussed with Novartis officials the possibility of extending the company’s capacity-building initiatives in the Philippines to university graduates in science-related fields, as well as in medical-related research and development under the existing Trainee Program between the Philippines and Switzerland. END
