Pfizer Hellas: Sustainable development and creation of long-term measurable value in 3 pillars

Pfizer Hellas presented its strategy for Sustainable Development, on the occasion of the publication of the 3rd Corporate Responsibility Report (2019-2020). Pfizer’s strategic priority worldwide is to contribute to the creation of a sustainable future for every society in which it operates. Following the ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance) approach, Pfizer Hellas is committed to creating long-term measurable value by creating a positive environmental and social footprint focusing on Patients, the wider community and the national economy. In fact, Pfizer Hellas is one of the top 5 companies in Greece that issue a Corporate Responsibility Report based on the ESG1 criteria, which cover a wide range of company operations based on the principles of sustainability and the impact of financial and their investment activities in society.

Based on the ESG criteria, ie environmental, social, but also criteria related to corporate governance, the sustainable development strategy of Pfizer Hellas focuses on 3 main axes: 1) the promotion of health and well-being of society, 2) the protection of environment and 3) in responsible business operation.

For each of these strategic axes, Pfizer Hellas follows a specific strategy and actions that reflect its commitment to a sustainable future based on its corporate goal “Innovating to change patients’ lives”. In this context, Pfizer Hellas aims to continuously maximize its positive footprint in the country, seeking equal access to its drugs and vaccines, minimizing the impact of its operation on the environment, ensuring a working environment that promotes diversity, inclusion and treating them equally and acting responsibly with mutual trust, integrity and transparency.

Pfizer’s contribution to the creation of a sustainable future with the global investment in Thessaloniki and the creation of two global Centers, the Digital Innovation Center (CDI) and the Center for Business Operations & Services, is typical. In fact, through this investment, Pfizer’s total contribution to the country’s GDP is expected to reach € 1.6 billion for the period 2020-2030, while Pfizer’s activity in Greece for the period 2020-2030 is estimated to support in total (directly and indirectly) about 2,600 jobs, based on a recent study prepared by IOBE. In addition, according to the IOBE study, Pfizer’s contribution to the development and promotion of Innovation in our country through the Digital Innovation Center is important, the activation of which is expected to contribute both to the improvement of our country’s profile as a country friendly to Innovation, as well as the improvement of specific Innovation indicators in the European Innovation Scoreboard (EIS).

The President and CEO of Pfizer Hellas, Mr. Zacharias Ragousis, stated in this regard: “Our strategic priority is to align our business strategy with Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility. In an ever-changing environment and in a period of high challenges Health, Society and the Environment, we are guided by the same anthropocentric culture, by the same sense of national and social responsibility and we seek through strategic investments and initiatives to create added value for all: for Greek society, our patients, our employees but and our country. ”

As reflected in the 3rd Corporate Responsibility Report (2019-2020), and in terms of health promotion, Pfizer Hellas has systematically contributed to the support of vulnerable groups and the elimination of inequalities by making donations of € 600,000 to address the COVID-19 pandemic in Greece in 2020, while the total social footprint of its actions in the period of pandemic outbreak reached € 4.5 million (data based on the international methodology SROI). At the same time, for the period 2019-2020, 49 actions in support of Patients’ Associations were implemented, while € 1.5 million were allocated for the support of institutions in the field of Health. Also important was the donation of more than 1,600 pneumococcal and meningococcal vaccines, which were available in the period 2019-2020 for preventive vaccination actions in vulnerable groups across the country.

As part of its commitment to promoting Research and Innovation, Pfizer Hellas partnered with the National Research Foundation through the “Advancing Science” program to support cutting-edge research and to empower young scientists in its field. He also supported a group of students from the National Technical University of Athens who participated in the international competition of Synthetic Biology “iGEM”.

Another major priority for Pfizer in the context of sustainable development is the management of the environmental dimension of medicines. Recognizing the risks posed to human health due to Antimicrobial Resistance, Pfizer Hellas implemented, during the two years 2019-2020, information and public awareness initiatives for the rational use of antibiotics and the prevention of public health.

In addition, one of the most important pillars of the company is its employees, to whom it invests systematically, through a comprehensive policy of growth and empowerment. In 2020, Pfizer Hellas and the Digital Innovation Center had a total of 352 employees, of whom 55% were men and 45% women. It is worth mentioning that the company is constantly working to promote equal inclusion, one of its core values, promoting the non-discriminatory acceptance of all people and the constant effort to reduce inequalities, both internally and externally. . Pfizer Hellas was also the first pharmaceutical company in Greece to sign the Diversity Charter in 2019.

Ms. Vasiliki Karamanou, BU Lead Vaccines and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Pfizer Hellas, commented: “For us at Pfizer Hellas, the concept of Sustainable Development is inextricably linked to our commitment and effort to improve people’s lives. That is why we have been pursuing the alignment of our business strategy with the fulfillment of high goals, in terms of our impact on society and the environment. “Sustainable Development, to become more systematic and structured, applying international standards, principles and methodology. Our constant goal is to better understand and respond to the needs and expectations of our patients, our employees, our partners and society as a whole.”

The 3rd Corporate Responsibility Report was created based on the international guidelines of the “Global Reporting Initiative” (GRI) with a level of compliance “In Accordance Core”. At the same time, having adopted the United Nations Agenda for 2030, as expressed by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, Pfizer Hellas contributes to the achievement of the Goals associated with its activity.

The Exhibition is available on the corporate website of Pfizer Hellas and at the link:

https://webfiles.pfizer.com/csr_report_2019-2020