AstraZeneca takes action to drive sustainability

At present, AstraZeneca is committed to delivering its sustainability strategy, which focuses on driving sustainability from the lab to the patient by decarbonising its value chain and delivering more circular approaches.

Through flagship programmes and important collaborations with the Ministry of Health and healthcare partners, AstraZeneca is partnering to build resilient health systems and adopting a patient-oriented mindset to improve equitable health outcomes so everyone, everywhere can live their healthiest lives.

AstraZeneca Vietnam is dedicated to sustainability by investing in local communities, healthcare infrastructure, education, disease awareness, and enhancing access to innovative treatments. Environmental initiatives include the AZ Forest programme, aimed at restoring forests in Vietnam as part of a global effort to plant 200 million trees by 2030.

AstraZeneca’s social responsibility extends beyond the environment, participating in disease prevention and control, such as COVID-19 vaccine distribution and disease management schemes. Partnerships with local organisations have aided initiatives like CaReMe for cardio-renal-metabolic care, the Healthy Lung Programme for respiratory care, and the Young Health Programme to promote healthy lifestyles among youth.

Besides that, initiatives like the Love your Lungs campaign raises awareness about lung cancer screening and diagnosis, while the Health Innovation Network, in collaboration with the Vietnam Young Physician Association, has provided free lung disease screenings to over 100,000 people. In 2024, this network aims to screen thousands more using AI technology and educate one million young people on preventing non-communicable diseases.

These moves are part of AstraZeneca’s science-based sustainability commitments for a healthier future. The company believes that access to healthcare, environment protection, and ethical business practices are interconnected, driving positive change requires collaboration within and beyond the healthcare sector.

AstraZeneca currently has nine focus areas, each with their own target, grouped under these three interconnected priorities: access to healthcare, environment protection, and ethics and transparency. Materiality assessments were conducted to help identify critical sustainability issues where AstraZeneca can make a positive impact.

AstraZeneca has so far achieved some of its sustainability goals. Key achievements include its Sustainable Markets Initiative Health Systems Task Force, aimed at accelerating the transition to net-zero healthcare systems. Additionally, 87 per cent of employees globally understand their contributions to sustainability priorities, with 25 out of 27 sustainability targets on track. In healthcare access, AstraZeneca has trained over 127,000 healthcare workers since 2010 and reached 66.4 million people through healthcare programmes, as well as 13.6 million through patient access programmes, contributing to two of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

As shown in the AstraZeneca Sustainability Report 2023, regarding environmental protection, the company has achieved a 67.6 per cent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gases emissions since 2015, a 19.5 per cent reduction in water use, and a 13.2 per cent reduction in waste, aligning with SDGs for clean water, affordable energy, responsible production, climate action, and life on land.

Promoting an ethical and transparent work culture, AstraZeneca has made strides in diversity and inclusion, with half of senior middle management roles held by women and supplier diversity programmes in 10 countries outside the United States. Some 83 per cent of employees feel there is a “speak up” culture, supporting SDGs for gender equality and economic growth.

In Vietnam, AstraZeneca also fosters innovation, diversity and inclusion, and lifelong learning among employees to build a sustainable workforce.

AstraZeneca Vietnam is continuing its collaboration with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Ho Chi Minh City in medical education and science research capacity enhancement.

Pharma giant AstraZeneca is solidifying its position as a pioneer in healthcare innovation in Vietnam.

AstraZeneca is strengthening local partnerships to unlock the power of science and improve access to healthcare. Atul Tandon, general director of AstraZeneca Vietnam, discussed with VIR’s Minh Anh about the vision and next steps.