Novartis employees join first global health, well-being initiative

MANILA, Philippines - Associates of the Novartis Group Co. across 32 countries recently participated in a new Novartis health and well-being initiative during the first Novartis Be Healthy Celebration Week.

During the week, Novartis Group sites offered many opportunities to help associates take control of their personal health. These included providing information, activities and tips to promote health and help prevent future health issues.

Novartis focused on prevention programs in Be Healthy because statistics from the World Economic Forum (WEF) show that workplace health and well-being programs addressing lifestyle changes can help prevent up to 40 percent of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and lung disorders.

“Be Healthy supports our strong belief that good health care starts with our own employees,” said Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis. “This initiative helps Novartis associates take an active role in managing their own health.”

Each day of Be Healthy Celebration Week focused on one of Be Healthy’s four pillars — Move, Choose, Know and Manage. Each pillar provided Novartis associates with tips on how to lead healthier lives.

A pre-lunch lecture on the health benefits of eating fiber followed by a complimentary salad bar kicked off the weeklong celebration. Two days were allotted for after office-hours badminton, weight training and aerobics at the Novartis gym where associates were guided by qualified fitness instructors.

The associates were taught how to manage stress and achieve work-life balance in a lecture entitled “The Pursuit of HappyNESS.” Two days were dedicated to free measurement of key health indicators: blood pressure, fasting blood sugar (FBS), cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI). Based on the results of the key health indicators, company physicians worked with the associates in formulating a plan to achieve a better quality of life.

“As associates of a respected health care company, we must set a good example by striving to adopt a healthy lifestyle and encouraging our family and friends to do so as well,” said Thomas Weigold, country president of Novartis Healthcare Philippines.

Be Healthy will have broad reach within the Group. In 2011, 76 of the largest Novartis sites across 32 countries were involved which meant that the initiative reached 80 percent of affiliates’ associates. In 2012, the initiative will be expanded to 88 additional sites and reach 95 percent of associates.

The Novartis Be Healthy Celebration Week coincided with the WHO-sponsored “Wellness Week” and the United Nations High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases.

Novartis is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Workplace Wellness Alliance, which puts an emphasis on health and well-being (http://www.weforum.org/issues/workplace-wellness-alliance).

The WEF alliance is a response to the growing burden of NCDs, the chief cause of death globally and a significant contributor to global healthcare costs.