„Sustainability cannot be achieved on your own“

Marc Werner, how important is sustainability at Galenica?

We firmly believe that we can only secure our long-term success if we take responsibility for society, take care of our employees and use natural resources consciously and efficiently. This belief is reflected in our three sustainability principles, which underpin our vision and relate to our corporate values, employees and resource efficiency. However, it is important to remember that we cannot achieve sustainability on our own. Our network philosophy strengthens our approach to sustainability, both within Galenica and in collaboration with our partners. Transparency through regular reporting and incentives for environmentally friendly behaviour further reinforce our commitment.

Can you give some examples?

We offer financial incentives to encourage our employees to use public transport and implement resource-efficient mobility measures together with our suppliers and distribution partners. In addition, we are seeking and promoting an ongoing dialogue with industry representatives, authorities and digitalisation partners so that we can work together to develop innovative and sustainable solutions. We raise awareness about sustainability among our employees through various measures such as training and participatory initiatives. The members of the Sustainability Committee play a key role in this, acting as ambassadors, raising awareness, and promoting and implementing sustainable action in their respective areas of responsibility. For example, when renovating our headquarters and pharmacies, we take the approach of reusing building elements and furniture as much as possible with a focus on sustainable materials. State-of-the-art systems such as automated blister packaging at Medifilm help to reduce waste.

Patient safety is one of your core sustainability goals. How does Galenica contribute specifically to this?

The safety of our patients is our top priority. Whether in our pharmacies, pharmaceutical logistics, products and services or home care: our customers should always be able to trust that they are receiving the right medication in the correct dosage and that it has been stored and transported under optimal conditions. To achieve this, we apply the highest quality standards, carry out regular audits and rely on digital innovations. Examples include compliance with GDP (good distribution practice) guidelines and the use of digital solutions such as Documedis^® to reduce medication errors. We continuously support our employees in their professional development and training in order to meet the highest standards. This also includes examining interactions, intolerances and support to help patients adhere to their medication regimens. We offer our patients comprehensive advisory services – whether in person in the pharmacy, digitally or through home care.

And how does Galenica contribute to ensuring a secure supply of medicines in Switzerland?

Galenica works closely with suppliers to make sure medicines are available at all times. After all, bottlenecks in the supply of medicines are a major challenge around the world and also affect Switzerland. Our logistics companies review the inventory on a daily basis in order to react in good time to supply gaps and increased demand. Galenica has also launched the Safety Stock Initiative to increase the safety stocks of generic medicines for chronic diseases. Pharmacies can bridge short-term bottlenecks by substituting and manufacturing prescriptions or finding suitable alternatives for patients. In the area of home care, Medifilm is helping to reduce medication waste by implementing individual blister packaging. This tailor-made packaging doses medications precisely according to patients’ needs.

What makes Galenica an attractive employer and how do you support your employees?

Employees stay with a company when they resonate with the corporate culture, have the opportunity to develop and fulfil their potential, and can pursue a meaningful activity. We offer attractive career paths across our network and are firmly committed to a servant leadership management style. For example, we work on a role-model basis in pharmacies, which has a positive impact on employee development opportunities and motivation. We attach great importance to promoting an inclusive working environment that practises diversity and equal opportunities. Trust, flat hierarchies and collaboration networks are the foundation of our corporate culture. Modern working environments, such as the new Swing Space at the headquarters in Bern, also support this philosophy. Open workspaces, state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and diverse meeting areas create the ideal setting for employees to work together in a flexible way.