Page 64 - Demo

64 About Strategy and Governance Our People Our Business Our Outcome AppendixEthics in the Medical Sector As a distributor of pharmaceutical and medical devices, DKSH%u2019s Healthcare Business Unit regularly interacts with healthcare professionals (HCPs). We support ethical business conduct by endorsing relevant industry codes of ethics (International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations [IEPMA], Asia Pacific Medical Technology Association [APACMed]) and through active membership in the respective industry associations. Comprehensive Manuals for Interactions with HCPs in our Pharmaceutical, Medical Devices, and Diagnostics product categories convert these codes of ethics into internal processes and procedures. By doing so, we ensure compliance with the relevant local codes when interacting with HCPs and enhancing DKSH%u2019s compliance program. In 2022, we launched a new IT platform. This intuitive HCP engagement solution is designed to simplify expense monitoring processes related to interactions with HCPs and includes business, compliance, and finance monitoring. Since the launch of our new IT platform in 2022, we have observed a marked improvement in the efficiency and accuracy of our expense monitoring processes related to HCP interactions. Feedback from our business, compliance, and finance teams underscores the platform%u2019s effectiveness in streamlining workflows and enhancing oversight.Integrity Along Our Supply Chain As an outsourcing partner for our clients, we are committed to upholding integrity in the supply chain within our sphere of influence. This includes our business partners, such as customs brokers, event organizers, and forwarding companies, whom we rely on for parts of our service delivery. DKSH does not maintain relationships with business partners that do not share our values and meet our standards for doing business. Business partners are engaged based on written service contracts that include anti-corruption and anti-fraud compliance clauses, with both our Supplier Business Conduct Policy and the ABAC policy serving as contractual requirements. All service providers must undergo risk-based due diligence procedures before admission. Screening processes are periodically refreshed upon contract renewal, within one year of admission, or on an ad hoc basis when specific warning signs have been raised through our monitoring processes. Our Supplier Business Conduct Policy, which includes DKSH%u2019s anti-fraud and anti-corruption policies, is communicated to all business partners acting for and on behalf of DKSH. In 2023, we did not record any incidents of contracts with business partners being terminated or not renewed due to corruption-related violations. %u2023 GRI 205-2, GRI 205-3Compliance Incidents Reporting and Investigations Our Compliance Incidents Reporting and Investigations (CIRI) policy provides guidance on the procedures to be followed when reporting and investigating incidents, including the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the parties involved. The policy applies to DKSH Holding Ltd. and all its subsidiaries and affiliates worldwide, including all DKSH employees. Fraud cases are covered separately by our Anti-Fraud Policy and related findings are handled by the Group%u2019s Internal Audit Function. We support and encourage people to report concerns using the Integrity Line. This secure online reporting platform gives employees and external parties a 24/7 channel to notify concerns in confidence and, at the reporter%u2019s discretion, anonymously. Employees and business partners can use the Integrity Line to report any misconduct, especially violations of applicable law and/or DKSH internal standards, rules, regulations, or procedures. Such concerns might relate to unethical business practices, bribery or fraud, harassment, conflicts of interest, inappropriate workplace behavior, or any other activity suspected of violating the Code of Conduct, our company policies, or the law.All reports are properly reviewed and kept confidential. Our strict non-retaliation policy protects reporters who raise concerns in good faith. We publicize the existence of our Integrity Line internally and externally, with the aim of empowering employees and external parties to speak up and promptly report any incidents of corruption or other misconduct. Under the guidance of the Group%u2019s Compliance or Internal Audit Functions, cases are investigated, and errant parties are adequately sanctioned. Our CIRI Policy sets out the procedure to be followed for all reports received via the Integrity Line. This procedure includes a preliminary assessment and triage by a case coordinator and further actions based on the nature and substance of the report. A case owner will be assigned to investigate sufficiently substantiated reports. Such investigations can result in disciplinary actions or sanctions where evidence has been obtained to substantiate an allegation. Cases reported using other channels, such as email or verbal means, are reported immediately to the case owner and are subject to the same procedure. DKSH has zero tolerance for retaliation against anyone who reports incidents in good faith. Such assurances are provided to employees via clear commitments contained in the ABAC and other policies and to those reporting using the Integrity Line. All incidents reported under the CIRI Policy are recorded using the Integrity Line tool. In 2023, we recorded 140 reports, mostly relating to complaints in employee matters.