Eli Lilly and Company: The Lilly NCD Partnership
Case Overview
Eli Lilly and Company engaged FSG to develop its new, signature corporate responsibility initiative that would represent its evolving approach to corporate responsibility, which includes a focus on catalyzing access to healthcare, developing new models for effective care, and creating Shared Value. The resulting initiative, called The Lilly NCD Partnership, targets non-communicable diseases (particularly diabetes) in low- and middle-income countries.
Non-communicable diseases (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and respiratory diseases) are a crucial global health need that is growing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries. No longer just affecting wealthier nations, these conditions are placing a heavy burden on already under-resourced health systems stretched by shortages and infectious diseases like HIV / AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis.
FSG began by conducting a landscape analysis of existing programs targeting NCDs and in-depth geographic analysis to inform a list of potential target countries. Senior leadership approval was gained, and significant time was spent by all team members in the initiative’s four potential target countries, which enabled the choosing of launch countries, the selection of implementing partners, and the development of program focuses based on local needs.
The resulting Lilly NCD Partnership improved diagnosis and treatment for individuals battling non-communicable diseases, with a particular focus on diabetes, by supporting, testing, and reporting on new models of care in Brazil, India, Mexico, and South Africa. Lilly is partnering with leading health organizations and researchers in each country to develop more effective and cost-efficient solutions for risk-factor prevention, diagnosis, linkage to care, and treatment.
The initiative’s conceptual framework (“Research, Report, Advocate”) captures the learning nature of the program. Development of program goals, activities and metrics, and agreements with evaluation organizations in launch countries were crucial for building the monitoring and evaluation capacity of the program, and will enable Lilly to report on its program findings and advocate for effective NCD care models.
The Lilly NCD Partnership also represents a new effort from the corporation to create more Shared Value (a combination of social and business value). As local healthcare clusters are strengthened, people with diabetes will have improved care from better-trained and resourced professionals. Stronger clusters also help increase access to medicines for patients with diabetes, thus enlarging Lilly’s potential market.
The Lilly NCD Partnership is an innovative approach to corporate responsibility in the global health sector that meets the real needs of local patients, builds field knowledge, and creates Shared Value.
About Eli Lilly and Company
Founded in 1876, Eli Lilly and Company is the 10th largest pharmaceutical firm in the world and works to develop innovative medicines at lower costs. Lilly has more than 38,000 employees worldwide and its products are marketed in 125 different countries.