Code of Conduct, policies and principles

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The donation of medicines can contribute to improving public health in developing countries, especially in response to national emergencies and through disease eradication programmes, when the disease can be addressed and managed in a relatively short time.

However, for the majority of long-term general health needs in developing countries, the donation of medicines alone does not provide the solution. Sustainable healthcare delivery depends on having a functional healthcare system, trained healthcare professionals and effective supply and distribution mechanisms in place to ensure that medicines are used to their full effect as part of ongoing healthcare management.

Whilst we continue our efforts to discover a new treatment for TB, AstraZeneca’s marketed medicines are not currently relevant to the major infectious diseases - HIV/Aids, TB and malaria - facing the developing world today.

Many of the medicines that we make are for treating chronic diseases or are intended primarily for hospital use, and therefore require diagnosis, long-term management and supply to patients through robust healthcare infrastructures.

Nevertheless, we recognise that some of our medicines, such as antibiotics, can make a valuable contribution in some emergency situations.

We consider requests for donations of any of our medicines on a case-by-case basis and we manage the majority of our donations through our local marketing companies who are closer to the needs of patients in the country in which the donation is to be made.

In all cases, we aim to ensure that:

• Donations are made in response to a genuine public health need.
• Donated medicines comply with regulatory requirements of the country in which they are to be used and have a valid marketing authorisation in that country.
• We donate medicines through reputable non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Red Cross, AmeriCares, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) and Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) where we are confident that the medicines will reach their intended recipients and will be used appropriately.
• We donate medicines in circumstances of national emergency in response to requests from governments or international agencies.
• We conform to the WHO Guidelines for Drug Donations with regard to the selection, quality assurance, presentation, packing and labelling and the management of appropriate distribution of donated medicines.

In some markets, such as the US, we also operate a number of patient assistance programmes which make our medicines available free of charge or at reduced prices. Click here to read more.

AstraZeneca is also playing a part in helping the developing world by working in partnerships that help to build local healthcare capabilities where they are most needed. Click here to read more.