Novartis staff take part in Community Partnership Day

Novartis has carried out a number of charitable and community-focused events across the world to mark its annual Community Partnership Day.

More than 25,000 Novartis associates spread across 54 countries engaged in volunteer activities last week in order to celebrate the anniversary of the company's founding, with participation rates up by 25 percent on last year.

Initiatives took place in large markets such as the UK, US, China, Japan, India and Russia, as well as in smaller nations like Madagascar, Bangladesh and Costa Rica, where such activities will have a significant impact.

Examples of projects undertaken via the scheme include medical education events, blood donations, hospital visits and charity drives, all aimed at helping underprivileged people with healthcare needs.

This was the 16th Community Partnership Day held by Novartis since its foundation in 1996 and had the best rate of staff participation to date.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the company will be increasing its medical donations to combating leprosy over the next five years, as part of a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-backed project to eliminate the disease.