Novo Nordisk Ukraine has continued operations and even demonstrated remarkable resilience in the market despite the cruel invasion of Russia into Ukraine. We were able to protect our business interests and keep all our local staff employed. It is not exactly business as usual, but we have been able to pay our state taxes, maintain our inventory of vital products, visit physicians, and conduct clinical trials. Looking back at 2022, we have identified the main reasons behind our compelling story of resilience and hope.
Be Ready for Worse-Case Scenarios
Before the invasion, Novo Nordisk Ukraine developed a detailed contingency plan in case of a full-scale invasion, and all employees were instructed about steps to be taken in case of war. We provided financial support for staff to relocate in case of life-threatening circumstances. Even after the invasion, master classes and webinars were given on how to protect yourself in wartime including first aid, mine safety, etc.
Stay in Contact with your Team
Every leader was in contact with their team immediately and after the invasion and stayed in close communication about local conditions and possible relocation. Effective collaboration and coordination between teams helped us to stay organized during the chaos as one unit.
The Value of Digitalisation
Thanks to digitalization and the dedicated work of our entire team, the operational activity of Novo Nordisk Ukraine is functioning normally even in conditions of remote work. Most of the providers have switched to electronic document management, which helps with our partnerships. Even the warehouse team has quickly adapted to the operations of the warehouse including the challenges of a remote workforce, problems with transportation, and constant power outages.
A Leadership Culture
The beginning of the war highlighted the leadership skills of our staff and willingness to take responsibility for change. Our staff evacuated patients from dangerous “hot spots”, arranged a hotline, and have been united in a group dedicated to searching for patient insulin requests. They have found insulin even where it was impossible to find, including in the occupied territories. On the first day of the war on February 24, we gained our first logistical victory. A truck with a batch of insulin arrived in Ukraine, but the driver was ordered to urgently return to Denmark with the cargo. This was unacceptable to us, so our logistics manager agreed to leave the medicine in Ukraine. In the end, the driver drove the truck and left the semi-trailer. The insulin had to be cleared by customs and brought to the warehouse within 48 hours. And we did it!
Patient Orientation
The main achievement of the entire team in 2022 was that we stayed connected with our patients and physicians during these challenging times. We managed to provide access to the insulin produced by Novo Nordisk for patients in most Ukrainian regions, including dangerous "hot spots”. In addition, the company donated insulin for more than 50,000 patients with diabetes and hemophilia. The total volume of donations is valued at more than UAH 600 million and we continue to help Ukraine in its recovery.
Assistance During Challenging Times
Since the beginning of the war, Novo Nordisk headquarters has been supporting our affiliate in Ukraine and our employees who need help. The company has covered payments for accommodations of team members who moved abroad for temporary residence. Moreover, Novo Nordisk has provided additional monetary support for our employees on several occasions. All our team members who stayed in Ukraine have been facing utility and infrastructure crises caused by missile attacks. Understanding this type of environment, our company bought warm sleeping bags and electric power banks for employees and is considering supplying powerful chargers for each of our workers in Ukraine.
In conclusion, we are proud of the resilience of our team during these difficult times. Their hard work and dedication to our company values are inspirational. We believe that getting through this will prepare us for future opportunities and meeting challenges as we grow stronger.
