ESG in practice in the pharmaceutical industry — a patient-centered perspective

A recent patient-perspective survey report analyzing how pharmaceutical companies practice ESG reveals both the progress and the challenges the industry faces in embedding ESG values into its core operations. The patient perspective is crucial to evaluating pharmaceutical companies' ESG policies, because it reflects the direct impact of ESG practices on society.

Of the hundreds of comments the surveyors received from patient groups, only a handful of patient leaders described pharmaceutical companies' ESG activities as directly relevant to patients; most saw them merely as a way for companies to burnish their ethical credentials. Yet recent pharma ESG reports feature increasingly patient-centered narratives.

Pharmaceutical companies should now, more than ever, expand their ESG responsibilities. They are seen not merely as suppliers of medical products but as key players in responding to broader social and environmental challenges. The expectation is that pharmaceutical companies will not only provide medicines, but do so in a way that is sustainable, ethical, and responsive to the needs of diverse patient populations.

In ESG news media, biopharma investors' ESG communication initiatives have highlighted several priority areas deserving special attention, including access to medicine, ethical business conduct, and environmental stewardship. These recommendations serve as guideposts to help pharmaceutical companies prioritize their ESG practices and ensure they are responding to society's most pressing problems.

Environment

Pharmaceutical companies' environmental practice centers on reducing pharmaceutical production waste, promoting green packaging, and implementing eco-friendly drug distribution systems. Companies can lower their products' carbon footprint by adopting recyclable materials and shrinking packaging. In addition, by digitizing patient education materials and holding virtual medical conferences online, pharmaceutical representatives and marketers can further cut paper use and travel, reducing environmental impact.

Social

Pharmaceutical companies' social responsibility shows chiefly in improving drug accessibility, supporting patient education, and providing personalized patient care. Through social insurance drug supply and patient support programs, companies can offer drug assistance to patients facing economic inequality, ensuring more patients can obtain the treatment they need. Companies can also provide disease education and health management resources, helping patients better understand their condition and master self-management skills, and thereby improving their quality of life.

Governance

In carrying out drug marketing, pharmaceutical companies must uphold principles of transparent, accountable governance. This includes ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations, and maintaining operational transparency through regular audits and reporting. Companies should also ensure that all communications and interactions with physicians and patients are grounded in medical need, avoiding any potential conflicts of interest and thus protecting patients' interests.

At the same time, growing attention is being paid to whether patient support programs align with ESG goals. These programs ensure patients receive not only the medical treatment they need but also the comprehensive support required to cope effectively with the challenges of illness. Patient advocacy groups are calling on the industry to adopt an integrated ESG approach—one that encompasses both patient support and broader corporate responsibility—highlighting how pharmaceutical companies can demonstrate their commitment to social well-being and environmental sustainability in response to growing health needs.

As the industry moves forward, the ability of pharmaceutical companies to demonstrate their ESG commitments clearly through concrete data and results will be key. This means showing efforts not only to reduce the environmental impact of production and logistics, but also to expand patients' access to medicines and to pursue integrated social impact practices that reflect the diversity of patient needs. The future of patient support in the pharmaceutical industry will likely be defined by a patient assistance approach that integrates ESG values—ensuring patient well-being is served not only through medical treatment, but through sustainable and socially responsible practices that respond more fully to society.

Sean Chang, General Manager, PATIENTSFORCE, Media-WIND Health Group (MWHG)

Sources:

• https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40290-023-00485-9
• https://www.patient-view.com/2022/patient-groups-new-perspective-on-esg-policy-within-pharma
• https://esgnews.com/pharma-and-esg-the-patient-perspective/