Humanitarian & Social

Roche directs the majority of its philanthropic donations to humanitarian and social projects. The objective is to build stronger, healthier communities through better healthcare including social and support services for people in distress, especially in the world’s poorest countries.

The projects we support take into account local needs and capacity. The focus is not on medical treatment or so-called end-of-pipe solutions. We work with local authorities and partners who share our commitment to long-term solutions and who are prepared to contribute by, for example, providing essential infrastructure or local resources, or both.

Employee secondment

Roche maintains a secondment programme that allows its employees to contribute their skills to health-related projects in Least Developed Countries or other low and lower income economies.

Building on Roche’s overall commitment to improve health and access to healthcare, the programme enables our employees to contribute their expertise in ways that help change the lives of others and, in return, experience unique personal development opportunities. The programme is open to all eligible full-time employees, with each secondment lasting between three and twelve months, depending on the project.

Seconded Roche employees have contributed to projects in India, Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana, Ethiopia, Niger, Swaziland, Togo and other countries in partnership with the Swiss Centre for International Health, World Vision, the Ethiopian Diabetes Association and the Canossian Sisters, among others.

The Roche Employee Action and Charity Trust

The Roche Employee Action and Charity Trust (Re&Act) is an independent Trust that supports community improvement and rebuilding projects. Founded and supported by Roche and its employees, the trust works with key charitable organisations to identify international humanitarian needs and community restoration projects.

The Trust then channels financial support to long-term, sustainable projects, usually in developing countries after a natural disaster or to address other critical needs. Roche provides operational and administrative support to the trust.

Learn more at Re&Act

Disaster relief

When disaster strikes, we are ready to contribute our expertise and, where appropriate, our products, services and logistics capabilities to assist emergency relief organisations.

Decisions about whether or not to support relief efforts are usually made locally by Roche affiliates in consultation with Corporate Donations and Philanthropy (CDP).

Education for Cancer in African Regions

EDUcation for Cancer in African REgions (EDUCARE) is a public-private partnership between Roche and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Launched in 2010, EDUCARE is addressing the significant shortage of trained oncology healthcare workers in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The objective is to continue the fight against cancer in developing countries by building on achievements by the IAEA’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT).

For more information, visit PACT

Transnet-Phelophepa Healthcare Train

Phelophepa, pronounced pay-lo-pay-pa, means good, clean health. The Transnet-Phelophepa Healthcare Train is a clinic on rails that brings primary health care to remote regions of South Africa. Local residents have described the service as “a train of hope” and “a miracle train.” From modest beginnings as a three-car train in 1994, the service has expanded to two 18-coach trains in 2012.

Both trains run 36 weeks a year, providing medical services and healthcare education to more than 375,000 people annually, including more than 90,000 patients in need of care. Roche has supported Transnet-Phelophepa since its launch, funding the primary healthcare clinic, community outreach and other ancillary services in both trains.

To learn more click here or to join an interactive journey of the train, click here.