Working with patient groups

Roche is proud of its history of working with patient groups. The company wishes to ensure that collaborations reflect common values of integrity, maintenance of independence, respect, equity, transparency and mutual benefit. These values act as guiding principles for the guidelines.

Patient groups are increasingly important partners for Roche. We share an interest in helping patients understand and manage their disease, including having timely and equitable access to the treatment they need. Roche is able to contribute a range of skills, expertise and knowledge which might enhance the patient organisation’s activities.

Patient groups are important in helping Roche to gain a greater understanding of what it is like to live with a disease, the challenges facing patients and their families and the role that drug therapies play in the management of the disease. They also provide the company with an insight on how to support healthcare professionals who in turn support patients.

Roche has established a set of guidelines which should underlie the relationship between Roche and any patient group. Any agency working with patient groups on behalf of Roche must also follow these guidelines.  

Through implementing these guidelines, Roche will move to a role as a true partner working in collaboration with the patient group, where the patient group knows explicitly what it can expect from Roche.

In 2008 Roche provided support to a range of patient group organisations, globally.