Princeton MedSolutions, LLC, Princeton, NJ, USA.
Astellas Pharma Australia Pty Ltd., Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Pharmaceut Med. 2023 Nov;37(6):405-416. doi: 10.1007/s40290-023-00485-9. Epub 2023 Jul 18.
Like most private enterprises, the pharmaceutical industry has deeply rooted environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters that challenge its long-term sustainability. Overcoming these external challenges requires collaborative and proactive steps as well as procedures guiding the adoption of ESG principles by all internal stakeholders. Environmental challenges such as climate change, and in addition the changes in society, have resulted in the need for governance addressing and coordinating efforts. The core function of medical affairs (MA) is connecting with stakeholders within a company and also between the company and external stakeholders. In this article, we describe the involvement of MA in several aspects of ESG, as a contributor, partner, and implementer. MA has a significant opportunity to emerge as a leading function involved in ESG strategies and their tactical implementation. Although the involvement of MA in the environment pillar of ESG is less, the function can implement changes relating to the conduct of meetings, clinical studies, and the digitalization of medical education via virtual platforms. Due to its patient centricity, MA is tasked to address social determinants of health to improve patients' outcomes. As a linking function within a company and with its external stakeholders, MA can provide proactive input in policy generation and enable effective governance by adherence to standards of accountability, ethics, and compliance, as well as transparency. Championing ESG is a collective responsibility that transcends any single department. It mandates a company-wide commitment. MA represents an essential pivot point in catalyzing the integration of ESG principles within industry, contributing to a healthcare ecosystem that is not merely more sustainable and ethical but also more conducive to patient health and public well-being.
与大多数私营企业一样，制药行业也存在着根深蒂固的环境、社会和治理（ESG）问题，这些问题对其长期可持续性构成挑战。克服这些外部挑战需要采取协作和积极主动的措施，并制定程序，指导所有内部利益相关者采用 ESG 原则。环境方面的挑战，如气候变化，以及社会的变化，都需要治理来应对和协调努力。医学事务（MA）的核心职能是在公司内部以及公司与外部利益相关者之间与利益相关者建立联系。在本文中，我们描述了 MA 在 ESG 的几个方面的参与，包括作为贡献者、合作伙伴和执行者。MA 有机会成为参与 ESG 战略及其战术实施的领先职能。尽管 MA 在 ESG 的环境支柱方面的参与较少，但该职能可以通过实施会议、临床研究和医学教育数字化等方面的变革来实现。由于其以患者为中心，MA 负责解决健康的社会决定因素，以改善患者的治疗效果。作为公司内部和外部利益相关者之间的联系职能，MA 可以在政策制定方面提供积极的投入，并通过遵守问责制、道德和合规标准以及透明度来实现有效的治理。倡导 ESG 是一项超越任何单个部门的集体责任，需要公司上下共同承诺。MA 代表了在行业内推动 ESG 原则整合的关键支点，有助于建立一个不仅更可持续和更符合道德标准，而且更有利于患者健康和公众福祉的医疗保健生态系统。
