|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
| ||
| ||
    
   |
|
Heineken HIV/AIDS PolicyContact Information:Dr. Henk Rijckborst ForewordHIV/AIDS has significant negative implications both for world-wide public health and global economic development. But the problem also has direct and indirect effects for Heineken. That is why Heineken has been executing HIV/AIDS prevention and care programmes in its facilities for many years. We believe that public health is primarily the responsibility of natural governments. However, we have to face the facts that in some areas of the world governments fail to fill their primary public health duties. In such areas, Heineken accepts, under certain conditions, a supplementary role in the organization of health care. With the right medical infrastructure, therapy could prolong productive life and reduce sickness. Heineken as an employer can meet these conditions and has decided to include anti-retroviral therapy in existing local medical curative programmes, unless those concerned are eligible for a comparable external programme. Anti-retroviral therapy is a complex therapy and must and will be properly monitored and managed. Open channels of communication are maintained with international agencies, local governments, and non-governmental organizations. In many cultures, the issue is still sensitive, and there is always a danger of stigmatization and discrimination of HIV-positive people. This HIV/AIDS policy has been developed to clarify Heineken's position and to define the conditions and principles of its prevention and medication policy. We sincerely hope that Heineken will set an example for both international businesses and governments to jointly fight this pandemic, which has had and unfortunately will have such a devastating impact on development of the world community. Bart de Jonge Contents
PreambleIn formulating the Heineken HIV/AIDS policy, the following principles are of primary importance:
Heineken believes that public health is primarily the responsibility of national governments. This includes health problems resulting from environmental factors (e.g., malaria) and also damage to health, which might have been caused or aggravated by individual behavior outside the working environment (e.g., HIV/AIDS). In so far as national governments fail to assume their primary public health duties, and if this failure affects employee performance, the company will accept a supplementary role in the organization of health care. When determining the nature and extent of its responsibility in this area, Heineken takes into consideration the positions of international bodies (such as the World Health Organization [WHO], the International Labor Organization [ILO]) and international business. However, Heineken reserves the right to conduct its own evaluation of the effect of its policy on the local company. Basic Principles of Heineken's HIV/AIDS PolicyGiven the nature and development of the disease and its effect on business, Heineken focuses primarily on prevention and on health support for HIV and AIDS patients. Heineken firmly opposes discrimination, in general, including discrimination of employees with HIV, and will make every effort to ensure that employees are not stigmatized. Their HIV status will not affect job security, terms of employment, or any other element of social policy. They will be treated in the same way as employees suffering from any other chronic disease with regard to absenteeism, assessment, and transfer to a less demanding position or working environment. HIV status will not be a criterion in redundancy selection. Heineken will not oblige anyone to undergo an HIV test or treatment, whether it concerns employees, potential employees, their families, or third parties. Personal medical information, including a request for and the result of voluntary HIV tests, will be treated in the strictest confidence. Heineken will co-operate where possible with relevant translations and institutions. Heineken will do its utmost to allow local communities to benefit from the spin-off of preventive activities that Heineken organizes for its employees. Prevention and Health Support Programme
Additional programmes will be developed locally for groups with an increased risk of infection (e.g., promotion girls, employees who live apart from their families). Evaluation of the risks could lead to radical changes in working conditions, training, coaching, and management control. B. Health Support Programme for HIV and AIDS Patients Employees who test positive for HIV can be productive for a long time if they receive the right help and guidance. Heineken will establish an effective health support programme for employees with H1V and their immediate family. This will consist of:
Anti-retroviral TherapyThe Executive Board of Heineken has decided to include, under conditions set out below, anti-retroviral therapy in existing local medical curative programmes unless one is eligible for a comparable external programme. This decision applies in principle to all Heineken organizations world-wide. A temporary different position of one of the organizational units or countries is only permissible if there are objective differences in local circumstances that make implementation of such a policy unattainable. Heineken will organize access to anti-retroviral therapy in so far and as long as such therapy is not otherwise available, or, in the company's view, this therapy cannot be afforded and/or there is no access to the proper medical infrastructure. Heineken will offer anti-retroviral therapy within the context of existing local medical policy, including the conditions of entry and exclusion rules adopted as part of this policy. The term anti-retroviral therapy should in this context also be understood to mean the necessary tests, the actual medication, and, where necessary, additional medical care. Heineken solely offers anti-retroviral therapy if a controlled supply of medication is reasonably guaranteed over an extended period without interruption. Therapy will not be offered if Heineken cannot guarantee a high level of quality. Therapy will solely be offered in accordance with protocols laid down by Heineken International Medical Services (HIMS). A competent external body will internationally monitor the quality of the necessary infrastructure, level of knowledge, and treatment. HIMS reserves the right to reconsider both the medical organization and the procedures adopted to ensure their compatibility with the HIV/AIDS policy. The company does not accept responsibility in cases of voluntary termination of the therapy, failure to observe the conditions associated with provision of the medication, or possible failure and side effects of the therapy. Only those who qualify for medical treatment under the existing policy also qualify in principle for the therapy referred to herein. Generally speaking, these are staff, their partners, and their dependent children up to a set age. To establish whether someone qualifies for therapy, no distinction is made according to the position of an employee in the organization or any other irrelevant discriminatory criteria. Qualification for therapy will be based on medical grounds only. In so far as and as long as one qualifies for the medical treatments under existing arrangements, any therapy in place will in principle be continued unless the individual fails to observe the stated terms for therapy or is eligible for a comparable external programme. By way of exception from this, therapy already started will, subject to conditions remaining the same, also be continued after redundancy due to reorganizations. The local management will endeavor to promote access to an alternative external programme for those no longer qualifying for anti-retroviral therapy under the existing entry/exclusion rules. Those receiving therapy will be expected to make a reasonable personal financial contribution and to take the steps necessary to ensure that the therapy can be effective. C. Organization and Management The local management is responsible for implementing the HIV/AIDS policy. In doing so, it endeavors to involve international organizations, local authorities, non-governmental organizations, and, if possible, other local and international companies. Where necessary, the formulation of programmes can be adapted to the local culture, as long as this does not affect efficacy and safety and as long as implementation takes place within the HIMS policy formulated in this brochure. Support for programmes will be established among employee representatives, usually trade Unions and/or internal consultative bodies. In every operating company where this is relevant, a committee will be established to advise on the organization of the prevention and health support programmes, as well as anti-retroviral therapy and associated problems. Ethical dilemmas should be submitted by the management to the Corporate Medical Ethics Committee (being established) which, after consultation, takes a decision on individual cases and develops guidelines for medical ethical action within Heineken worldwide. The local management will assess the possibility of placing the infrastructures and expertise of Heineken - both medical and organizational - at the disposal of the local business community so that they can initiate similar programmes. Furthermore, the local management will actively draw its policy to the attention of local business partners and other enterprises, and, where possible, enter into partnerships with them to pursue effective policy concerning HIV/AIDS prevention and therapy as a shared initiative. Heineken will grant assistance to research initiatives on biomedical and psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention and anti-retroviral therapy. CommunicationFor Heineken and for the success of any HIV/AIDS programme, it is important that the participants, authorities, and general public are informed correctly. Information should cover the nature of the measures taken and the reasons behind them. The local management is responsible for full and proper communication in this regard, which should be based on the following principles:
CostsThe costs of the HIV/AIDS policy are borne by the enterprise. A personal contribution is expected from those included in the test and medication programme. The level of this contribution is determined by the local management, but it should be reasonable in relation to disposable income. The object of this contribution is primarily to promote compliance with the requirements imposed by the therapy. The costs of developing the programmes, the materials, staff and the training and supervision of the medical staff will in principle be charged to HIMS. The local implementation of these programmes, including the costs of any medication, will in principle be charged to the local organization, unless the management of the national umbrella organization or cluster decides to take care of these costs. |
Home
Overview |
Country Programs |
SMARTWork Publications |
Resources |
Upcoming Events |
Staff Login
