Company: NOVARTIS, ISTANBUL TURKEY
Nomination Category: Company & Office Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program in the Middle East and Africa
Nomination Title: NOVARTIS HEALTH WAGON PROJECT, TURKEY
Tell the story about what this nominated company achieved in the past year (up to 500 words).Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:
The Health Wagon Project of Novartis Turkey is an extensive training and public awareness campaign on chronic diseases where Novartis is offering treatment; cardiology, respiratory, oncology, dermatology, rheumatology, CNS and ophthalmology.
The project is conducted in 20 different cities around Turkey on main railway routes from November 2005 till August 2006.
A Train Wagon is redecorated as a health unit with examination rooms and a meeting room for educational purposes.
Two physicians and one nurse worked in this project permanently.
Training sessions were held about diseases - hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, asthma, alzheimer, osteoporosis, IBS, cancer, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, acromegaly, depression,
fungus, thalassemia- their symptoms, precautions and the maintenance of health. Besides the permanent responsible doctor of the wagon, training was given by the local KoL’s or family
physicians.
In parallel to the trainings, the other activity of the Health Wagon was metabolic syndrome screening conducted on the “Cardio-Metabolic Risk Factors in Turkey” under the supervision of
the Metabolic Syndrome Association. It is the first report on ethiological factors of coronary artery disease among adults researching dislipidemia prevelance and relation of dislipidemia with
insulin resistance; postprandial glycemia and kidney functions in Turkey.
Objectives:
To increase public awareness on Novartis
To increase public awareness on chronic diseases.
Screening
Strengthen reputation of Novartis among stakeholders.
CME need of GP’s and Specialists
Promotional Activities:
An opening ceremony was organized in each city with the participation of the local government, NGO and health office representatives, physicians, academicians and the media.
Posters and brochures were distributed around the city before wagon arrives the city. Billboards, radio programs, telephone/sms messages, public announcements also supported the communication of the Project.
Internet site under Novartis Turkey web site was updated daily to communicate the activities in the Novartis Health Wagon with photos (
Results:
Novartis Health Wagon project was a transformational, highest impact project.
5000 people were trained throughout 9 months.
1317 people screened for their metabolic risk factors.
Metabolic Syndrome Association and Ministry of Health approaches Novartis as
a partner.
The coverage in local media was considerably high.
10 days after the program, for each city a tele-survey is conducted with the participants to evaluate the success of trainings.
Effectiveness of the trainings is measured by the behavior change at the end of the training 1:
o91% found the trainings beneficial
o44% visited a doctor later on
o25% changed their nourishment style or started diet
o85% shared the knowledge with the family
o37% started exercising
o10% quitted smoking
Awareness of the public about Novartis:
Recall of the Novartis Health Wagon Project is 99% among those who participated the training.
Novartis is the 5th, with 2.3%, among the first recalled pharma companies, which are providing products for chronic diseases
Critical Success Factors:
Project increased the improvement of public awareness on wide range of diseases and to make them take action related to their health problems. 5000 patients have been given quality and effective education. The project reached success through full cooperation with important stakeholders. The project also supported the development of the Report of the “Cardio Metabolic Risk
Factors in Turkey”.
Key learnings:
This is the first and only project implemented in various cities, achieving the contribution of all the key stakeholders at the same time, namely Ministry of Health and Health Offices of the Ministry in the cities, National Security Offices, Governors, Municipalities, Medical Universities, Metabolic Syndrome Society, local media and field force.
The coverage in local media is considerably high.
List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [
More information regarding the project can be found at :
Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the leader of this nominated company:
Dr. Aylin Gürer
Graduated from Hacettepe University, completed her MBA at Bilkent University and received her PhD at Istanbul University, Labor Economics and Industry Relations Department in 2001. Gurer worked at United Nations (Ankara) as International Projects Coordinator She joined Novartis in 1997 and she was appointed as the Corporate Relations and Communications Director in 2005.
Ekin Erim
Graduated from Hacettepe University in 1996, Erim worked at Nurus, Bayındır, Yaşamkent, Total Lighting and DBR. After working at Saatchi & Saatchi Erim joined Novartis Turkey as Corporate Communication Associate in 2005. She was appointed as the Pharma Communication Manager in 2007.
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