Acting responsibly
Bayer AG's credo "Science for a better life" also stands for our worldwide social engagement in healthcare. We want to generate not only economic value, but also social value.
Responsible corporate governance
Research-based pharmaceutical companies already meet the highest of standards as regards regulatory and legal requirements. Our voluntary commitment to socially responsible corporate governance covers the entire pharmaceutical value chain, and all our activities are based on our code of ethical business conduct. Bayer Schering Pharma provides particularly strong support for the fight against corruption and counterfeit drugs.
Access to healthcare
Measures taken by the pharmaceutical industry cannot be a substitute for state tasks such as building a functioning health system. Concerted action is needed by all players in the health field combating the disease burden and high mortality rates in developing countries. Our aim is to use our expertise in such a way that we can contribute to measurable, sustainable improvements in global healthcare as a reliable partner in initiatives and collaborations. In this context we maintain an active dialog with our stakeholders.
As regards improving patients' access to healthcare, Bayer Schering Pharma's primary role is that of supplying and developing medicines. In doing so we pursue a strategy of differential pricing: For people in developing countries and emerging nations, we make a large proportion of our products available at lower prices than in industrialized countries or at cost.
Patents protecting intellectual property do not represent a barrier to patients' access to medicines. On the contrary, patents safeguard our economic viability, which is the foundation of research and the development of innovative therapies. Moreover, most of the drugs classified by the WHO as "essential" are already off-patent.
