Sustain­ability

Patient safety and health is a top priority for us. With personal and expert advice and a unique range of products and services, we support patients at every stage of their lives, promote their well-being and enable people of all ages to lead a healthy life in accordance with SDG 3.

We promote the use of renewable energies in distribution, the use of public transport and electromobility by our employees, always take measures to increase energy efficiency into account and check the feasibility of installing photovoltaic systems during renovations. In addition, we have defined specific targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, replacing fossil fuels and using exclusively renewable energy sources at all our operating sites. We also rely on supply chain partnerships in accordance with SDG 17 to promote recycling with regard to the climate, water and waste. With these measures, we are contributing to the fight against climate change.

In addition to traditional municipal waste, we also produce medical and chemical waste. The prevention, reduction, recycling and professional disposal of waste is of central importance to us. We also contribute to biodiversity conservation by disposing of medications properly. Environmentally friendly waste management forms the basis of responsible consumption and production.

With the increasing digitalisation of the healthcare system, the risk of cyberattacks is increasing. This is why IT security is a critical topic at Galenica. As a healthcare provider, we process sensitive information and data. We ensure that these are protected against unauthorised access and unauthorised changes or loss. Protecting IT systems is key to a peaceful and inclusive society as well as strong institutions.

Protecting patients and customer data is a top priority for us. We respect and protect the personal data and privacy of patients when processing their data. Our Data Protection Policy contains general rules on the organisation and responsibilities of the Galenica Group with regard to data protection. Data protection is an important basis of a peaceful and inclusive society as well as strong institutions.

We work closely with suppliers to ensure the greatest possible availability of medicines. An IT-based scheduling system also helps us optimise our procurement and logistics processes. Reliable provision of medicines to the population is key to promoting health and well-being.

Our employees play a key role in our success. We consistently promote employee motivation and development by offering our employees attractive and fair employment conditions, modern and flexible working models as well as various training and education programmes and opportunities. We also support the next generation of skilled workers by training apprentices. Through all these measures, we support sustainable labour and economic growth in Switzerland.

Securing skilled workers in the healthcare professions and IT sectors is a major challenge in Switzerland. Our recruitment strategy includes measures to promote the company’s image as an employer, positioning and university marketing for pharmaceutical students in order to secure skilled workers. In doing this, we support sustainable labour and economic growth in Switzerland.

The physical and mental health of employees is very important at Galenica. This is why we take all possible precautions to protect the health and safety of all employees in the workplace. We also operate preventive case management in order to ensure a swift return to work after an illness or accident. We thus make a significant contribution to the health and well-being of our employees.

We are committed to diversity and equality and bring together people from 82 countries and all age groups. Three-quarters of employees are women. Our Code of Conduct states that we do not tolerate any discrimination or harassment. We also ensure that salaries are equal between men and women. We ensure equal opportunities and are committed to reducing inequalities. In doing this, we also contribute to SDG 5 (Gender Equality).

Good and transparent corporate governance is crucial for us to manage the company effectively and efficiently. In addition, corporate governance forms the basis of a peaceful and inclusive society based on the equal participation of all people as well as strong institutions.

We attach great importance to conducting our business activities in an ethical and legal manner. All our business activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws and compliance with human rights is essential for us. This is how we contribute to a peaceful and inclusive society.

The medications sold by Galenica are mostly produced by third parties, though its own pharmacies and the Bichsel Group also manufacture individual medicines and medical devices for patients. The Bichsel Group makes high-quality products for hospitals, nursing and care homes and Spitex organisations. The quality of the medications as well as patients’ safety and health are crucial. Furthermore, the manufacturing of medicines has an impact on people and the environment. Galenica ensures that its business partners meet their social and ecological responsibilities, and has therefore developed a Supplier Code of Conduct that encompasses aspects related to ethics, labour law, health, safety, quality and the environment. Producers are also regularly assessed with regard to quality.

Galenica predominantly distributes and sells pre-packaged third-party medications. Exceptions are the packaging of medicines manufactured by pharmacies themselves, the Bichsel Group and drug blister packaging by Medifilm. Medifilm is the Swiss pioneer in the customised packaging of medicines and food supplements, which it carries out on behalf of pharmacies according to treatment plans for chronic and long-term patients. The work requires a high level of precision and efficient use of resources (materials and energy), both of which are optimised by Medifilm through its quality and environmental management system.

Pre-wholesaler Alloga provides warehousing, logistics and distribution services on behalf of its industrial customers. The company primarily serves wholesalers, including the wholesale businesses of Galexis, Unione Farmaceutica Distribuzione (UFD) and Pharmapool, as well as pharmacies, physicians, hospitals and care homes throughout Switzerland. Alloga works with around 80 pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, many of which are leading multinationals. Galexis is the leading wholesaler in the Swiss healthcare market and supplies pharmacies, medical practices, drugstores, care homes and hospitals. From its two distribution centres in Niederbipp and Lausanne-Ecublens, the company delivers over 90,000 referenced healthcare products to customers. Unione Farmaceutica Distribuzione (UFD) meanwhile, is the most important and only full-range healthcare logistics company in Ticino. Finally, physicians’ wholesaler Pharmapool supplies and supports medical practices with medicines, consumables, laboratory products and furnishings. Finally, the Bichsel Group supplies its home-care patients and customers via its own fleet of vehicles.

All five companies ensure that medications and healthcare products reach pharmacies, physicians, drugstores and other medical institutions quickly and safely. Patient safety is also guaranteed for temperature-sensitive medications thanks to an uninterrupted cold chain. Distribution requires a large amount of fuel and emits greenhouse gases, pollutants and noise. Customer returns also create waste, while inventory management and motorised logistics entail an increased risk of accident. The companies mentioned therefore not only comply with Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines, but also ensure a systematic approach to safety and environmental management.

The Galenica Group markets and distributes own and partner brands via Verfora and G-Pharma. The portfolio includes brands such as Perskindol^®, Anti-Brumm^®, Algifor^® and Merfen^®. Verfora also distributes in-licensed products from international partner companies, sometimes on an exclusive basis, such as the Vicks^® products from Procter & Gamble. The main societal implications at this level of the value chain concern patient safety and legally compliant product promotion. For this reason, the effects and any side effects of own medications on the market (pharmacovigilance) as well as the accuracy of product characteristic summaries are continuously monitored.

HCI Solutions develops software solutions for pharmacy management as well as tools to securely handle, communicate and distribute sensitive health and medication data. Its databases include over 200,000 products and enable healthcare providers, authorities and insurers to exchange information via a single platform. With these innovative, digital solutions, such as the Clinical Decision Support Check (CDS Check), Galenica is making an important contribution to promoting a safer, more efficient healthcare sector in Switzerland. Here, too, patient safety and the protection of sensitive data are critical. HCI Solutions therefore conforms to the highest security standards in software development as well as the Swiss Data Protection Act.

Galenica operates Switzerland’s largest pharmacy network, with over 500 own, joint venture and partner pharmacies. These include the Amavita and Sun Store pharmacies as well as the Coop Vitality pharmacies, which are operated under a joint venture. In addition, the company Winconcept supports independent pharmacies operating under the Feelgood’s brand. Together they serve around 100,000 customers daily, offering them a wide range of medications, toiletries and beauty products as well as various on-site healthcare services and tests. The range of services is complemented by specialty pharmacy Mediservice, which specialises in dealing with people suffering from chronic and rare illnesses; the Bichsel Group, which focuses on home care services in the field of home dialysis and home nutrition; and Curarex Swiss, which specialises in the care of patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease.

Patient safety is also a top priority for Retail. In order to ensure this, the professional competence of our employees is continuously nurtured. In addition, pharmacies require energy and produce waste, for example because of old and unused medicines being returned (see “Use of medicines”) and disposed of as hazardous waste in accordance with regulations.

Galenica has only a limited influence on consumer behaviour and patients’ correct use of medicines. However, all Galenica Group companies ensure that patients receive flawless products and accurate patient information, whether through advice in pharmacies or through package leaflets. Expired or unused medicines are an environmental and safety risk, thus cannot be disposed of with conventional industrial waste. Wholesale companies, pharmacies and Medifilm therefore take back unused medications and raise customer awareness of this special form of disposal of medications. Final disposal is carried out by third parties. Medifilm, which has a licence for hazardous waste disposal, is an exception to this.