By Jennifer Rigby
LONDON (Reuters) – The Novo Nordisk Foundation has no intention of intervening to support a global health sector grappling with a halt in U.S.-funded foreign aid, and will persist in concentrating on its primary non-communicable disease agenda, an official informed Reuters.
The foundation, associated with the Danish pharmaceutical company and renowned as one of the largest charitable entities globally, will give precedence to financing efforts aimed at addressing maladies such as heart disease and diabetes, along with risk factors like obesity, as stated by Flemming Konradsen, the scientific director of global health.
Konradsen mentioned, “Certainly, we are receiving increased inquiries… We do not have any plans to step in or fill any gaps,” during an interview last week, responding to a query regarding potential entities that could assume the role as governments curtail global health expenditures.
Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20, the U.S. has suspended international aid, albeit allowing certain exceptions for life-saving assistance. Additionally, the U.S. will withdraw from the World Health Organization, a move that reverberated globally.
The foundation serves as the parent organization of Novo Holdings, the primary shareholder of Novo Nordisk, a company recognized for producing the highly successful obesity drug Wegovy and diabetes treatments. The substantial profits generated from obesity medications at Novo have equipped the Foundation with a significant reserve to support its philanthropic initiatives, even though deployment of resources has progressed relatively slowly. The Foundation’s total assets amount to $153 billion, with nearly $25 billion earmarked for grants and investments, as per a spokesperson.
Konradsen noted a rise in international grants to approximately $150 million last year, constituting 10-12% of the total grants issued, with the remainder of the $1.35 billion allocated for projects in Denmark and other Nordic countries.
On an international scale, the primary emphasis will be placed on aiding governments in implementing nutritious school meal programs and bolstering institutions involved in nurse training initiatives.
He emphasized, “Chronic diseases are undeniably straining financial resources.”
Experts in global health have raised concerns regarding the potential actions by other affluent philanthropic organizations to counterbalance the repercussions of the U.S. government’s measures.
Rob Nabors, heading the Gates Foundation’s government relations, policy, and advocacy efforts in North America, remarked that no other foundation possesses the necessary funding, workforce capacity, expertise, or leadership previously provided by the United States to combat and manage deadly diseases, and address hunger and poverty worldwide.
A spokesperson declined to comment on whether the Gates Foundation may augment funding for such programs.
(Reporting by Jennifer Rigby, editing by Michele Gershberg and Bernadette Baum)
