Bayer Recognized with 2020 Outstanding Contribution Award for Sustainable Development for Its Commitment to Medical Poverty Alleviation

Shanghai, December 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday, the "Innovation and Sustainability – 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility Case Selection and Summit Forum," guided by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government Information Office and hosted by Shanghai Daily, was successfully held in Shanghai. The event aimed to honor companies that have made outstanding contributions to promoting sustainable economic and social development, and to provide a platform for showcasing and exchanging excellent cases of innovation and sustainable development across various industries. Bayer won the "2020 Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development Award" for the second consecutive year with its "Healthy Vision Public Welfare Project." This medical poverty alleviation project, carried out in collaboration with public welfare organizations such as the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and the Beijing Tongren Zhang Xiaolou Eye Care Public Welfare Foundation, highlights Bayer’s strong sense of corporate social responsibility rooted in China, and reaffirms its commitment to continuously supporting the construction of a "Healthy China" and a moderately prosperous society.

Bayer Wins the “2020 Outstanding Contribution Award for Sustainable Development”

Integrating Diverse Approaches to Build a Sustainable Model for Medical Poverty Alleviation

Currently, eye health issues are becoming increasingly severe worldwide, and in China, there are currently approximately 120 million cataract patients.^[1], 360 million dry eye patients^[2], with the number of myopia patients reaching approximately 700 million, and the overall prevalence rate of myopia at 54%.^[3]Especially in high-altitude regions such as Qinghai, Xinjiang, and Yunnan, intense ultraviolet radiation has led to a higher prevalence of blinding eye diseases among residents, with cataracts, juvenile strabismus, and fundus diseases being particularly prominent. However, some impoverished areas lack the diagnostic and therapeutic capacity for these patients, urgently requiring targeted assistance.

To help elderly cataract patients regain their vision, control myopia among adolescents, and reduce the incidence of eye diseases, Bayer officially launched the "Healthy Vision Public Welfare Project" in 2019, pledging a donation of 2 million yuan to the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation. By collaborating with public welfare organizations such as the Beijing Tongren Zhang Xiaolou Eye Care Public Welfare Foundation, Bayer, together with the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, not only provides free medical assistance to patients with eye diseases in economically underdeveloped regions of western China but also offers technical training and guidance to local ophthalmologists. Additionally, through activities like public welfare lectures, the project raises awareness about vision protection among teenagers in impoverished areas. This initiative combines providing immediate aid ("giving fish") with empowering long-term solutions ("teaching how to fish"), creating a more precise and sustainable model for poverty alleviation through healthcare.

To date, Bayer’s “Healthy Vision Public Welfare Project” has helped more than 100 cataract patients in poverty-stricken areas, including the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and Gansu Province, regain their sight through screening and surgical interventions; held multiple public welfare lectures on myopia prevention for adolescents at local primary and secondary schools, benefiting thousands of students in these regions; and conducted online media campaigns to disseminate disease-related scientific knowledge and education on myopia prevention and control, attracting participation from over 200,000 members of the public.

Looking ahead, Bayer plans to build on its existing initiatives by furthering collaborations with public welfare organizations such as the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and the Beijing Tongren Zhang Xiaolou Eye Care Public Welfare Foundation. The company aims to expand the range of treatable conditions and the number of beneficiary provinces, while enhancing physician education programs, thereby increasing the project’s impact and benefiting more patients and the general public.

Collaborating with Multi-Party Platforms to Jointly Build a "Healthy China" and a Moderately Prosperous Society

The “Health Vision” public welfare initiative is just one of Bayer’s many practices in shouldering corporate social responsibility and collaborating with multiple stakeholders to help build a “Healthy China” and a moderately prosperous society. At the recently concluded Third China International Import Expo, Bayer announced a joint “Grassroots Outreach” health poverty alleviation project in Hubei Province with the Chinese Rural Health Association. This initiative will provide diagnostic and treatment capacity training for grassroots doctors in the province, and carry out health education, disease screening, and free clinic activities for low-income families and patients with chronic diseases. Meanwhile, Bayer also announced the launch of the “Better Farms, Better Lives” smallholder farmer support program in China in 2021, which will provide green plant protection products and safe pesticide use training to 200,000 farming households in Xiangyang, Hubei Province affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, aiming to improve local farmers’ cultivation practices and increase both yield and income.

For a long time, Bayer has been committed to disseminating knowledge and concepts related to chronic disease management and self-care to the public through diverse platforms and formats, contributing to the construction of a "Healthy China." During the pandemic, Bayer invited more than 80 authoritative experts and organized nearly 100 online live-streaming sessions to educate the public on disease-related scientific knowledge. In June this year, Bayer was honored with the "Cloud Oriental Health Pioneer" Shanghai Science Popularization Public Welfare Project Award, presented by the Shanghai Medical Association and its Cardiovascular Disease Branch. In September this year, Bayer also supported the Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, the Shanghai Municipal Sports Bureau, and Xinmin Evening News in launching the "Xinmin Health Lecture Series into Communities" initiative. By integrating resources from multiple parties and inviting renowned experts to deliver lectures, the program addressed health issues closely related to daily life—covering cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health, maternal and infant health, digestive health, and household pest control—thereby helping to enhance public health literacy.

Rooted in China for many years, Bayer has always resonated with China’s major national strategies. This year marks the culmination of China’s efforts to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects and the final push to win the battle against poverty. Enhancing public health is of great significance to achieving these two important goals. As always, Bayer will respond to the call by leveraging its expertise in healthcare and agriculture, drawing on its accumulated experience in China, and collaborating with multiple stakeholders. Through innovative and effective approaches, Bayer aims to help improve the health and well-being of the Chinese people, contributing to the nation’s decisive victory in achieving these critical objectives.

[1] Data source: Zhiyan Consulting’s 2017 report, “Report on Market Operation Trends and Development Prospects of China’s Cataract Drug Industry (2017–2023)”

[2] Data source: National Medical Products Administration and outpatient clinical case monitoring, "In-depth Assessment Analysis and Investment Prospect Forecast Report on the Dry Eye Disease Medication Market in China (2014-2019)"

[3] Data source: "National Visual Health Report" released by the China Research Center for Healthy Development of Peking University in June 2019

About Bayer

As a multinational enterprise, Bayer possesses core competencies in health and agriculture within the life sciences sector. The company is committed to helping people overcome the major challenges posed by global population growth and aging through its products and services, thereby benefiting humanity. Meanwhile, the Group enhances profitability and creates value through technological innovation and business growth. Bayer is dedicated to sustainable development. Globally, the Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability, and quality. In the 2019 fiscal year, Bayer had approximately 104,000 employees, with sales amounting to €43.5 billion, capital expenditures of €2.9 billion, and research and development investments of €5.3 billion. For more information, please seewww.bayer.com。

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