Public Policy Engagement
- Ophelia Orum, a Zambian infected with HIV, produced a moving book and documentary film about her experience with the disease, illuminating Africa’s need for better treatment. Abbott helped launch Ms. Orum’s film at a major 2008 AIDS conference in Washington, D.C., and introduced her to numerous policymakers.
As a company committed to improving global health care, we seek to express our views on public policy issues that matter to our patients, shareholders, employees and communities – and we want to understand the concerns of those affected by our business and engage with our stakeholders to solve problems.
Abbott’s public policy role includes contributing information and expertise, convening forums and discussions, briefing policymakers and advancing new solutions to serious challenges in health care. Our participation in public policy dialogue is especially important when it comes to improving patient access to innovative medicines and affordable health care.
Engaging with Governments
Abbott is committed to transparency and is guided by our Code of Business Conduct in all public policy engagement. We approach governments as partners in improving global health care and seek to learn from them about the needs of their communities. For example, in 2008, Abbott worked with industry trade organizations and the U.S. Congress to support the reauthorization and expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The legislation provided an additional four million children from lower-income families with access to health care coverage.
There are also times when we do not agree with governments. We continue to object to the imposition of compulsory licenses on a range of patent-protected medicines. (For further details, please see Intellectual Property.) We believe compulsory licenses undermine the patent system. The way to sustain patient access is to ensure affordability, while preserving the system that enables the discovery of new medicines.
Activity in 2008
In 2008, Abbott was pleased to work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as it launched its new Global Intellectual Property Center, recognizing the importance of intellectual property rights.
We are also collaborating with two international bodies – the International Conference on Harmonization and the World Health Organization – to develop a uniform set of international manufacturing quality standards and help move our industry toward meeting those standards.
Trade Group Engagement
Abbott participates in numerous U.S. and international bodies representing the business community and the pharmaceutical, medical devices and nutrition industries, including:
- Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed)
- Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)
- European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries (EFPIA)
- International Association of Infant Food Manufacturers (IFM)
- International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA)
- International Formula Council (IFC)
- Partnership for Quality for Medical Donations (PQMD)
- Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA)
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce
These groups play a vital role in articulating and advocating industry viewpoints. Abbott engages with these groups and helps to develop policy solutions to better the lives of patients, as well as define their policy positions.
Political Donations
Abbott participates in the political process by contributing to state and local candidates and political organizations.
Abbott’s Government Affairs team reviews and approves all corporate political contributions to ensure they are consistent with the company’s guidelines and are in compliance with applicable laws. See www.abbott.com for details on Abbott’s 2008 corporate contributions.
