Global Citizenship
Abbott is redefining the concept of
responsibility. Beyond philanthropy, we apply our science, expertise and
technology to address critical health care needs through innovative
collaborations and partnerships. We are working to build sustainable solutions
to the world’s most pressing health care challenges, while reducing our impact
on the environment – creating lasting value for both current and future
stakeholders.
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The Global Citizenship section of our Web site
constitutes our complete Global Citizenship Report 2009. You can download or
order a summary report by going to our
Citizenship Reporting Page.
We are a diverse, global health care company with scientific expertise and
products that span the human life cycle. We regard our strategies for business
growth and profitability as inseparable from our strategies for citizenship and
sustainability.
Abbott’s 83,000 employees understand that earning trust is a result of their
actions, the decisions they make and the manner in which they do business every
day – in matters large and small.
Abbott is committed to helping our employees fulfill their potential and
build rewarding careers. Our human resources strategy reflects the dynamic
opportunities inherent in the breadth and diversity of our four businesses.
Abbott’s suppliers are integral to the success of everything we do. In 2009,
Abbott purchased an estimated $14 billion in goods and services from more than
20,000 suppliers worldwide.
In communities large and small, Abbott seeks to make a significant and long
lasting difference in the quality of people’s lives. Recognizing that we cannot
do this work alone, we support, encourage and partner with a wide array of
credible and effective community-based organizations.
Abbott and our trusted partner organizations were able to respond
immediately to the earthquake in Haiti – providing much-needed diagnostic,
nutritional and pharmaceutical products for use in emergency medical care,
along with financial assistance to support rebuilding.
While the 20th century witnessed an explosion in the growth and development
of medications, advances in 21st century health care could well belong to
diagnostic science. Medical diagnosis consumes a small percentage of global
health care costs, yet it is the essential first step in the vast majority of
health care decisions.
The People's Republic of China has one-fifth of the global population and is
perhaps the fastest-growing economy in history. China is also important to
Abbott's future business plans and to our evolving obligations as a global
citizen. Abbott's strategic presence in China has grown sharply over the past
14 years.