Santa Farma İlaç is a leading player in the pharmaceutical industry. Since its establishment in 1944, it has opened the doors of a healthy life to millions of individuals. Respect for human lies at the core of Santa Farma which is one of the prominent organisations adding value to healthcare industry. The company undertakes various social responsibility projects thanks to its commitment to this principle. Let us leave the rest to Seçil Yüksel, Corporate Communications Manager of Santa Farma.
Santa Farma’s foundation was laid with the establishment of Farma Laboratory in 1944. As a domestic pharmaceutical company with 75 years of history, we supply a total of 73 products to 50 different markets. The articles of association drafted for the incorporation of the company refers to principles about “respect for the individual”. This principle which is displayed in our walls is embodied by our employees.
Santa Farma reports its progress on the 4 pillars of the United Nations Global Compact every year since it became a signatory in 2010. This year, we disclosed our 10th communication on progress in line with the GRI criteria in order to explain our actions regarding Human Rights, Labour, Anti-Corruption and Environment transparently.
Santa Farma’s eco-friendly production plant performs satisfactorily in all national and international audits since it was commissioned in 2015. As an indication of our respect for environment, we launched Zero Waste project last year. The recycle of the waste collected in our head office and office spaces in Gebze plant resulted in reduction of greenhouse gases by 41.4 tons in addition to saving 1 million 134 thousand 303 kilowatt hours of electricity. In other words, we saved 3 thousand 562 trees. Besides, we have recently launched an e-water recycling project in order to contribute to elimination of electronic wastes, a risk factor for autism, from nature. We will donate the revenues to be derived from recycling processes to TODEV in order to meet educational needs of autistic children.
We perform social responsibility projects in collaboration with our stakeholders in line with our principle to offer healthy services to health. We have undertaken various Corporate Social Responsibility projects to raise awareness on key issues.
We joined Istanbul Marathon with our corporate race team of 89 employees for the first time in 2017. Having joined the race for Hope Foundation for Children with Cancer (KAÇUV), we broke a record and ranked as the number one pharmaceutical company in donations and managed to contribute to their construction of the Family Home. Then, we organized the Super Hero Doctors Project under which we took the children’s drawings to their doctors. We created the Hope Tree Project for the new year and took the presents of head office, plant, and site employees to children receiving cancer treatment with the help of KAÇUV.
Another awareness project was launched jointly with Viral Hepatitis Control Association in order to raise awareness and encourage more people to take tests and adopt precautions against Hepatitis B. Leave A Yellow Note to Life, a public awareness project which was promoted through the informative messages and videos on the campaign website and social media accounts, was awarded at Golden Spider, Felis and MarCom Awards.
As part “Don’t Forget Yourself” project which is undertaken for more than 2 years with Turkish Alzheimer Association, we held public meetings in different cities in order to raise awareness about Alzheimer. We joined Istanbul Marathon with our corporate race team of 97 employees as a result of which we were distinguished as the number one pharmaceutical company and collected donations for funding the new day care centre.
Supporting women’s labour is another priority for our company. Since 2018, we act in partnership with İyimser Abla in order to provide support to women’s cooperatives from all over Turkey on occasion of 8th of March on behalf of all employees.
The Happy Tales Project is significant in that we were able to overcome the challenges of the pandemic which created a real obstacle for volunteers. The fairy tales confirmed by psychologists were vocalized by 58 volunteers from Santa Farma from home in order to cheer up children who are fighting cancer and make them smile with happiness. After adding music, Laughter Heals Association recorded the stories on mp3 players which were delivered to children who receive treatment at Paediatric Oncology and Haematology service. Last but not least, let me add that we undertake joint projects with a number of non-governmental organisations such as Haçiko and Encander in order to support their goal of promoting animal rights so that we can live in peace together with other species.