Corporate social responsibility strategies aimed at the developing world: perspectives from bioscience companies in the industrialised world. (10th February 2006)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mackie, Jocelyn E.; Taylor, Andrew D.; Daar, Abdallah S.; Singer, Peter A.
• Is Part Of: International journal of biotechnology. Volume 8:Number 1/2(2006)
• Page Start: 103
• Page End: 118
• Publication Date: 2006-02-10
• Subjects: corporate social responsibility -- CSR -- pharmaceutical industry -- biotechnology industry -- bioscience industry -- developing countries -- ethical decision making -- bioindustry ethics -- health problems -- drug donation programmes -- pricing strategies -- local health capacity -- public–private partnerships -- PPPs -- benefit sharing -- charitable foundations; Biotechnology -- Economic aspects -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Research -- Periodicals; 338.47660605
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-6048

Abstract

Bioscience companies have started to implement Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) mechanisms aimed at the developing world because many companies feel they have a moral responsibility to give back to society instead of only focusing on profits. This research team went to the source and interviewed over 100 managers and executives of bioscience companies to uncover what ethical issues they face and what mechanisms they are using to address these issues. This paper reports on six CSR mechanisms that the companies studied are using to address global health problems in the developing world: (1) Drug Donation Programmes, (2) Pricing Strategies, (3) Building Local Health Capacity, (4) Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs), (5) Benefit Sharing and (6) Charitable Foundations. Each mechanism is described in detail with examples from the companies studied followed by a preliminary analysis of some cautions that should be considered before each mechanism is implemented. These empirically based mechanisms offer ideas and models from which other companies can learn.