March 31, 2023
On March 29, 2023, Eisai’s CEO Haruo Naito participated in the second Global Health Academy “Japanese Companies’ Latest Approach to Infectious Diseases Around the World” held for Japanese media, and gave a presentation titled “Eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases and Realizing Social Good through Partnership.” The academy was organized by the Business Leaders’ Coalition for Global Health (hereinafter “the Coalition”) where Eisai is a member, inviting Dr. Shigeru Omi, Chairman, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Chairman, Subcommittee on Novel Coronavirus Disease Control, as an external expert, and the members of the Coalition ― Mr. Teiichi Goto, President, Representative Director & CEO of Fujifilm Holdings Corporation, Mr. Hisashi Ietsugu, Chairman and CEO of Sysmex Corporation, Ms. Mihoko Kashiwakura, Head of East Asia Relations, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and CEO Naito ― taking the stage to give lectures and talk sessions on their respective initiatives.
For videos of the event, please click here (in Japanese only)
For detailed information of the event, please click here (in Japanese only)
In his speech, CEO Naito touched on the significance of companies working together with the public to address social issues. He also talked about the impact (initiatives for addressing social issues) which has become a new evaluation scale of corporate value in “New Capitalism” of Prime Minister Kishida’s Cabinet in Japan, in addition to conventional risk-reward evaluation. Eisai has quantified the impact and value of free provision of diethylcarbamazine (DEC) tablets, a treatment for lymphatic filariasis, for more than 10 years. He also expressed his expectations for the legislation of “Public Benefit Corporation*,” a proposed business model that goes beyond conventional public-private partnerships (PPPs), which might lead to the creation of solutions by solving issues such as responsibility and project management.
*A type of corporation in the United States that emphasizes the social and public good as a corporate entity with the aim of contribution to society. Corporations are required to stipulate the social benefits in their Articles of Incorporations and to fulfill accountability for necessary activities.
Eisai’s initiatives for improving access to medicines, including activities to eliminate NTDs and malaria, go beyond the framework of CSR activities and aim at creating long-term value and social impact based on our corporate concept, human health care (hhc). We aim to contribute to relieving anxiety over health and reducing health disparities of people at risk of contracting neglected tropical diseases and those suffering from diseases by strengthening our global partnerships.
About the Business Leaders' Coalition for Global Health
The Volunteer Group is an organization of Japanese companies and others contributing to global health (supporting and actively working in the fields of healthcare, especially public health and infectious disease control), led by Ken Shibusawa (CEO, Shibusawa & Company, Inc.). It is composed of executives from a wide variety of fields, including not only the healthcare sector, such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices, but also finance, trading, digital, supply chain, and more. Haruo Naito, Eisai’s CEO, is a member.
The Volunteer Group believes that by optimizing the products and technologies of diverse sectors, including governments, we can provide comprehensive solutions to global issues, and to this end, the volunteer companies will work together under the same vision to promote Global Health Action. The Volunteer Group is considering the following four initiatives for the future. (Not all volunteer companies will participate in these initiatives.)
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1.Consider specialized schemes and entities that promote the creation and strengthening of opportunities to collaborate with international health organizations such as WHO, Global Fund, Gavi Vaccine Alliance, etc.
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2.Establish an All-Japan pavilion at international exhibitions and promotion of the advanced and attractive features of Japanese products that contribute to global health
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3.Promote the introduction and participation in a system of "impact-weighted accounting" that quantifies and visualizes the impact of socially conscious products
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4.Continue activities to bring corporate voices on international health issues to the government