Novartis rewarded for earthquake efforts

The China Charity Award has gone to Novartis, one of the world’s largest pharmaceuticals companies, for its support of relief efforts after the earthquake in Sichuan province last May.

Novartis, which is based in Switzerland, contributed more than 15million yuan ($2.2m, £1.5m) in cash and medicines. The contributions included 20,000 units of the antibiotic amoxicillin from Sandoz, the Novartis generics division, and donations from 2726 Novartis associates totalling $135,000 (£95,000). The financial contributions are supporting relief efforts and reconstruction projects in the YaAn area in co-operation with the China Red Cross.

The award was presented by the China Bureau of Civil Affairs at a ceremony in Beijing.