Азбука финансов

Joint efforts to prevent potential pandemics

Representatives of the Russian government, researchers and business community discussed possible strategies to confront and prevent potential epidemics and pandemics at the round-table discussion at the World Bank on June 3, 2009.

The event was supported by IBLF Senior Partner GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). The meeting focused on how government and business can work together to reduce the impact of pandemics, and take steps to avoid epidemics and pandemics, and should they strike, how to manage the consequences to reduce their negative impact on operations. The latest evidence was provided to help Russian companies with their pandemic flu contingency plans.

Influenza is one of the biggest cause of absenteeism in Russia. But the potential damage to productivity is not limited to the annual influenza round. Such diseases can take more virulent forms, with longer-term impact on the health of employees and their families, and can also hit companies suddenly resulting in interruption of work. Many companies are acutely aware of the risk of fatal forms of the influenza such as a pandemic of avian or swine flu.

The meeting focused on how government and business can work together to reduce the impact of pandemics, and take steps to avoid epidemics and pandemics, and should they strike, how to manage the consequences to reduce their negative impact on operations. Speakers includes government officials, scientists, international consultants and representatives of Russian private companies. The latest evidence was provided to help Russian companies with their pandemic flu contingency plans. Effective strategies on pandemic control as well as best practices of international and Russian companies to reduce the economic and social costs associated with influenza were presented.

Effective strategies on pandemic control as well as best practices of international and Russian companies to reduce the economic and social costs associated with influenza were presented.

Business for a Healthy Society