As a global healthcare Group, sustainable success in our business is the key to providing high-quality yet affordable healthcare over the long term. Compliance ensures this sustainable growth, determines our corporate culture, and is an integral part of our day-to-day work.
We at Fresenius are fully committed to compliance. The wellbeing of our patients is our top priority in everything we do. Our patients rely on us. Therefore, we are committed to the highest quality of our products and services, integrity in dealing with our partners, responsible conduct, and reliability. That is what we stand for. That is what is important to us.
The Code of Conduct defines the framework for our rules. Our Compliance Management System is designed to achieve the implementation of these rules within the company. We have implemented risk-based Compliance Management Systems in all business units and at Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA. These consist of three elements: Prevent, detect, and respond. Thereby, our focus lies on avoiding compliance violations through effective prevention.
“Our aim is to live our compliance culture. We stand for what is important to us: the wellbeing of our patients, quality, integrity, responsibility and reliability. And we speak openly about any compliance concerns we may have. We will not tolerate any “non-compliance”!”
Dr. Jürgen Götz, Chief Compliance Officer Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA
Each of our business segments has appointed a Chief Compliance Officer who is in charge of developing, implementing, and monitoring the Compliance Management System of the business segment. In line with the business structure and organization, the business segments have established compliance responsibilities at the respective organizational levels.
The Corporate Compliance department reports to the Chief Compliance Officer of Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA – the member of the Management Board responsible for Legal, Compliance, and Labor Relations and supports the business segments in further developing their Compliance Management Systems.
The Fresenius Management Board and the Supervisory Boards’ Audit Committee is regularly informed about the status and efficacy of our Compliance Management System.
Our Compliance Management System is designed to achieve the implementation of these rules within the company.
Prevent
Our company guidelines and processes support us in implementing the applicable rules in practice. Regular risk assessments are used to check applicable guidelines and processes to see if they need any adaptations. Training on the Code of Conduct, on company guidelines in general and on specific compliance subjects explains the application of the rules. In addition, the Corporate Compliance team is happy to answer all questions.
Detect
Through on-site visits in the form of audits and workshops, the implementation of compliance initiatives is ensured. The Corporate Compliance team supports employees and managers in defining the necessary internal controls required to ensure compliant behavior in our everyday work. Information on any possible misconduct can help us to improve our guidelines and processes.
Respond
Any information received will be checked diligently and comprehensively. If a violation is detected, we will take the necessary measures to remediate the situation. If necessary we will take specific action and improve our company processes. The aim is the continuous improvement of the compliance measures to achieve what is important to us: Quality, integrity, responsibility, and reliability for the wellbeing of our patients.
We at Fresenius continuously work to save lives, promote health and improve the quality of life of our patients. As a global healthcare company, we consider human rights part of our corporate responsibility. We respect and support human rights as they are defined by international standards, such as the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Fundamental Principles as published by the International Labour Organisation (ILO)1 and aim to fulfill them in our area of responsibility. Moreover, we make a decisive contribution to secure access to good and affordable health care with our products and services. We improve access to health care in many countries for the communities and thereby contribute to supporting human rights.
To fulfill our responsibility as a health care company, we care about different areas in relation to human rights.
1 ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, adopted June 1st, 1998