Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Health

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) refers to the responsibility of the corporate or business institution to work for the betterment of the society and people beyond their staffs/workforce
According to World Business Council for Sustainable Development (2000), Corporate Social Responsibility can be defined as: “The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic Social development while improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families as well as the local community and society at large”
It is an umbrella concept consisting of variety of strategies and actions undertaken by private-for-profit agencies on a voluntary basis without any social, legal and economic obligation but just with the positive intention to create and contribute positive changes in different dimensions of society
It can be also understood as a contribution made by the business for the sustainable development of the society, nation and globe
CSR is a widely known concept in business institution and holds pretty long history of its contribution to the society. However, it is neither too old nor too new concept in global health as there are limited scientific literatures about CSR and health
At present, rather than limiting CSR to only non-health corporate field, it’s time for health related corporate sectors as well to expand their horizon in CSR and make the best use of it for the goodness of people and their own too.
Why CSR is in dire need in Health at present?
- Health is a global agenda and all human beings are in search of better health status, thus demanding huge amount of technical and financial focus
- Global health issues are rapidly increasing and being more and more complicated. On the other hand, global funding to act meticulously on these health issues to reach up to the bottom of the society is limited.
- Also limited are other resources like manpower and technologies which can be fulfilled by a strong partner like corporate society
- Health needs permanent attention while health resources are finite
- High time for establishing sustainable health care system all over the world
- To improve quality of life of people through addressing all the above mentioned shortfalls
CSR in health can be both sided i.e. from inside and outside the health sector. For e.g.: either corporate hubs outside of health can contribute for the better health system and better health facilities of the people or business institutions inside health sector can go beyond their for profit objective and contribute to the society
Health related corporate sectors include: hospitals, pharmaceutical industries, health product manufacturers, health insurance companies etc.
Either for a health related or non-health related corporate sector, examples of some scopes/opportunities for performing CSR in health are:
- Health promotion activities
- Health protection through manufacturing different health safety goods, complying with occupational safety and health
- Allocation and distribution of resources for improving the social determinants of health i.e. the places and conditions where we are born, live, grow, work and age
- Research and innovation
- Support in policy implementation
- Financial or work effort donation to health related charities etc.
It may also sound confusing at first that how a corporate sector (private-for-profit) can increase their benefit by contributing more for social benefit when they might be themselves struggling hard to amplify their business and profit.
Moreover, strict rules and regulations, expensive workforce, costly instruments and maintaining high international standards may look as a limited opportunity to focus on CSR. However, the benefits of getting involved in CSR in health for corporate agencies are:
- Social acceptance from key stakeholders
- Reputation management and increased patient loyalty
- More attraction and retention of the employees
- Helps to attract more investors and other stakeholders
- Increases goodwill and raises high bar for competition to other competitors
- Support and recognition from government and international bodies
- Encourage innovation and enthusiasm
It may look like a big challenge about what sort of activity should be carried on under CSR in health sector. Some of the examples that can be implemented as well as are also currently executed in field as a part of CSR are:
- Financial and technological support and increasing affordability to reduce barriers in health care access
- Going beyond medical care and focusing on integrated health care delivery through inter-sectoral partnerships
- Addressing demand supply match in public health infrastructures
- Community partnerships on different health issues
- Supporting fund-raising activities
- Volunteering in health campaigns and organizing health camps
- Collaboration and coordination with and among different health institutions to act mutually. E.g.: supporting Red Cross to act against epidemic and pandemic disease
- Manufacturing/selling drugs at low price for economically vulnerable populations