Patient Groups / Health Consumer Organisations (HCOs)

Novartis interacts with a number of groups that represent Australian patients. Patient groups, also known as Health Consumer Organisations (HCOs), play the critical role of educating and supporting patients, as well as safeguarding the rights of patients and carers.

Novartis maintains relationships with patient groups to ensure we remain mindful of the patient’s perspective with regard to diseases and their related treatments.

When working with patient groups, Novartis;

• recognises the independence of the patient group and commits to safeguarding this independence;
• strives to achieve mutual trust and respect with the patient group, with each party recognising the objectives of the other; AND
• strives to improve the quality of peoples’ lives

In Australia, Novartis also follows the principles and guidelines of ‘Working Together: A Guide to relationships between Health Consumer Organisations and Pharmaceutical Companies’. This guide was the product of a collaborative partnership between Medicines Australia (the peak body representing the innovative pharmaceutical industry) and the Consumers Health Forum (the peak Australian body for HCOs). A copy of the guide can be found on the Medicines Australia website.

Novartis is committed to maintaining a transparent working relationship with patient groups. To ensure transparency, we disclose the names of patient groups in Australia, Europe, the US and international groups, with whom we maintain a relationship. This list will be updated at the beginning of each year.

Novartis and Patient Groups/HCOs

Australian Lung Foundation

• Support of national disease awareness activities
• Support of medical research activities

Australian Pituitary Foundation

• Support of national disease awareness activities
• Support of patient services

Alzheimer’s Australia

• Support of national disease awareness activities

Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF)

• Corporate member of the CHF

Kidney Health Australia

• Support of patient services

LADS (Learning and Attentional Disorders Society of Western Australia)

• Support of national disease awareness activities

Leukeamia Foundation

• Support of printing patient materials and booklets
• Support of patient education seminars

MS Australia

• Support of national disease awareness activities
• Support of medical research activities

Macular Degeneration Foundation

• Support of national disease awareness activities

Myeloma Foundation of Australia

• Support of national disease awareness activities

The McGrath Foundation

• Support of national disease awareness activities

Osteoporosis Australia

• Support of national disease awareness activities

Thalassaemia Australia

• Support of national disease awareness activities

Westmead Breast Cancer Institute

• Support of disease awareness and fundraising activities

The Unicorn Foundation (Neuroendocrine Tumors)

• Support of disease awareness and fundraising activities

For information relating to Europe, the US and international groups, please visit: www.novartis.com