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AstraZeneca's Amy Ng: “MNCs must be Responsible Corporate Citizens.”

Multinational companies (MNCs) should voluntarily accept their responsibilities to the environment and society, which will help build mutual trust with their costumers, according to Amy Ng, senior vice-president for AstraZeneca China, a worldwide pharmaceutical company.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), which is comparatively new in China, is becoming a globally valued concept. It requires companies to accept obligations to their staffs, society and the environment while pursuing profits and striving to enhance their shareholder value. CSR implies compliance with business ethics, ensuring working safety, the conservation of resources and protecting the legal rights of employees.

Large international companies like AstraZeneca are pioneers in CSR practices in China. In May 2006, AstraZeneca invested $100 million to establish a medical research and development base, the AstraZeneca Innovation Center China (ICC), in Shanghai’s Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park. ICC’s initial therapeutic area of concern is cancer. And after the May 12, 2008, Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan Province, AstraZeneca got involved in the disaster-relief and reconstruction work in the area. Aside from donating cash and products, it has also collaborated with a Beijing non-governmental organization in providing training for relief workers in epidemic prevention right away. AstraZeneca has donated 14.64 million yuan to the relief effort.

CSR is about more than donating money, Ng said. “No company should, under any circumstances, provide large amounts of donations or payments without first properly investigating where the money is going and how it will be used. If the usage of the aid is not transparently publicized, it could lead to another round of crises for the government.”

When asked about what international companies such as AstraZeneca can do to help the Chinese Government, especially to prevent public health concerns regarding China’s food safety, Ng said the Chinese Government’s willingness to listen to their opinions have improved, especially since the SARS outbreak in 2003.

In recent years, there have been a lot of reports about medical accidents, which has led to a tense relationship between hospitals, patients and medical companies. However, this is abnormal and can be changed, said Ng. This is another area where CSR can help: in promoting the importance of a high quality medical industry. For example, AstraZeneca’s CSR initiative “Searching for White Angels” aims to improve the public image of medical workers so they can be more trusted in their work. Ultimately society in general and patients in particular will benefit from a more professional and trustworthy doctor-patient relationship.

吴浣苓：践言践行做“负责任的企业公民”
文/薛京晶 仇筠茜

企业社会责任是目前国际上普遍认同的理念，它要求企业在创造利润、对股东利益负责的同时，还要承担对员工、对社会和环境的社会责任，包括遵守商业道德、生产安全、职业健康、保护劳动者的合法权益、节约资源等。而阿斯利康作为在中国发展多年的跨国公司，十分重视企业的社会责任工作，阿斯利康高级副总裁吴浣苓女士对此表示，跨国公司在创造利润的同时，要主动承担对社会、对环境的责任，与消费者之间建立起良好的互相信任的关系。她把阿斯利康比作一位“始终如一地坚持做负责任的企业公民”，并且“践言践行。”

回顾在中国的发展道路，吴浣苓女士说：“阿斯利康在为中国引进先进的运营理念，帮助中国的医药卫生事业走出国门，与世界接轨方面起到了一定作用，此外，企业更注重的是“研制出更多安全可靠而且要有效、长效、特效的药给病患，来帮助病患解除痛苦，挽救生命。”汶川地震发生当天，阿斯利康捐赠了100万元。截至目前，公司用于四川震区救灾重建的钱物累计1464余万元。地震发生后的一周时间内，阿斯利康的义务工作者就抵达重灾区。吴浣苓介绍说：“阿斯利康全球的员工都时刻准备着向灾区的人民伸出援手，我为我们的员工感到特别骄傲。”这种在关键时刻表现出与中国人民的休戚与共，更是成为阿斯利康的在华社会责任名片。

此外，与消费者之间建立起良好的互相信任的关系，也是跨国公司打开市场并建立良好的企业形象的关键所在，需要持之以恒的坚持和矢志不渝的工作。吴浣苓认为，健康水平的提高需要全社会的共同努力，目前在健康传播方面中国仍然有很大的机会等待我们去把握。她主张企业社会责任工作要从为社会建立良好的医患关系的“大局”出发，“其中，最重要的一点就是要建立起良好的互相信任的关系”。

同时，阿斯利康公司还将这种对大众健康的关心落实到一系列社会责任活动当中。“寻找白衣天使”也阿斯利康公司现在正推行的一项活动，作为企业社会责任活动的一个重要组成部分。吴浣苓说：“提高医疗服务质量是我们通过合作能够有效改良医患关系的另一个重要方面。“寻找白衣天使”活动的目标定位于改善医务工作者的公众形象，以便他们在工作中获得更多的信任，最终形成全民享受互信医患关系的融洽局面。”

吴浣苓女士最后语重心长的说，企业的社会责任绝不是一句简单的口号，更意味着责任和使命。作为一家跨国制药企业，阿斯利康致力于在自己的领域内做大做强，为解决人类共同面临的难题作贡献。做企业社会活动最重要的是要“用心”去做，出发点不是为了打品牌，而是确确实实做实事，去履行责任。