Novo Nordisk Case Study Shows Path to Lowering Costs and Improving Diabetes Care in Turkey

Creating Shared Value is increasingly being seen as a framework to motivate corporate sustainability efforts. The company’s newest case study looks at how best to provide good diabetes care for the growing number of people with diabetes in Turkey.
Nov 26, 2014 10:00 AM ET

November 26, 2014 /3BL Media/- More than half of the 7.2 million people living with diabetes in Turkey have a complication[1] that worsens health and are costly to treat. In 2012, treating complications accounted for 74% of total diabetes expenditures. According to the latest estimates from the International Diabetes Federation, by 2035 Turkey will have the highest absolute number of people with diabetes in Europe.

Novo Nordisk’s newly published Blueprint for Change case study ‘Innovating Diabetes care in Turkey’ shows how investing in local research and development, training of healthcare professionals and strengthening patient self-management programmes can lower costs and improve quality of life.

Download ‘Blueprint for Change: Innovating diabetes care in Turkey’

“Diabetes is not a death sentence. It is a condition that can be managed,” says Şebnem Avşar Tuna, General Manager at Novo Nordisk Turkey. “Nothing would make me happier than if we find a way to defeat diabetes but in the mean time we must do all we can to help those living with diabetes be in good health and live free from complications.”

According to the case study, with better diabetes control, Turkey can potentially save 24 billion euros by 2035 which last year was equal to four times the country’s annual pharmaceutical budget.

The case study was presented to an audience of over 150 doctors, patients, non-governmental agency representatives and members of parliament on 17 November 2014 at a high-level event at the Turkish Parliament in Ankara. 

Watch a short video about how Novo Nordisk works with partners to improve the health of people with diabetes and reduce risk of complications in Turkey

About the Blueprint for Change Programme

The Blueprint for Change programme aspires to set a standard for measuring and optimising the impact of Novo Nordisk’s activities by enhancing understanding of how Novo Nordisk creates value through its Triple Bottom Line business principle.

Through a series of case studies, Novo Nordisk provides insight into current and emerging sustainable business approaches, as well as best practices for creating shared value. The intent of the Blueprint for Change programme is not to present final answers, but rather a work in progress that invites stakeholders to share their own views and together co-innovate sustainable solutions to complex societal issues.

Read more about Novo Nordisk’s Blueprint for Change Programme

 

[1] Satman I, Imamoglu S & Yilmaz C. A patient-based study on the adherence of physicians to guidelines for the management of type 2 diabetes in Turkey. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 2012;98:75–82