To prevent, eliminate, or minimize human rights risks, both the Group and each business segment take appropriate preventive measures tailored to the individual case in our own business and in the value chain. In cases where our business activities have caused or contributed to human rights violations, we take appropriate and effective case-specific remedial action.
Preventive Measures
The following overview provides a non-exhaustive summary of potential standard preventive measures for Fresenius’s own operations and / or the value chain.
Own Operations
Standard preventive measures within our own operations include, among others, a binding Code of Conduct for our employees, guidelines on social and labor standards, as well as management systems for occupational health and safety.
In addition to training on human rights and communication measures related to our Human Rights Statement, our Internal Control System (ICS) and regular internal audits strengthen the implementation and monitoring of our human rights due diligence obligations.
Value Chain
Our measures within the value chain include, among other things, a Code of Conduct for business partners as well as risk-based training on human rights requirements, including information on the grievance mechanism.
These are complemented by risk-based assessments and ongoing monitoring of our business partners. Human rights and environmental clauses in contracts, along with our memberships in industry and multi-stakeholder initiatives, further support the implementation of our due diligence obligations throughout the value chain. In addition, within the scope of our influence, we develop specific prevention measures tailored to the results of regular and event-driven risk analyses and document these accordingly.
Further information on specific preventive measures can be found under Risk Analysis and Impact as well as in the 2024 CSRD report in the chapters “Own workforce” and “Workers in the value chain”.
What are human rights? How can I report a possible violation? And what does the term human rights due diligence mean? Our employees and business partners shall know the answers to these questions if we are to put our commitment to human rights into practice.
For this reason, and in addition to target-group specific training offerings on individual human rights topics, we have developed a dedicated global human rights training course – together with colleagues from different parts of our organization. This training has been gradually introduced for our employees since 2025 and also serves as a supporting measure in our collaboration with our suppliers. Which suppliers should take part in the training depends on their respective risk profiles. In this way, we want to actively contribute to the further development of our corporate culture and create a common understanding of due diligence obligations in our value chain.
Remedial measures
The aim of any remedial action is to end or minimize and, if possible, reverse the human rights or environmental violation. To measure effectiveness, we review the implementation of the measures at a case-specific interval. If necessary, we initiate further measures. A process is only considered closed when all remediation measures have been fully implemented.
To address negative impacts on rightsholders, we have developed a toolbox to provide practical support for human rights specific remediation measures. This is aimed at colleagues involved in investigating human rights and environmental violations affecting employees of Fresenius as well as workers in the value chain and consists of various components. These include general guidance on remediation in accordance with the LkSG and international human-rights-related standards and principles. It also includes guidance on dealing with specific human rights violations and a handout for evaluating the effectiveness of remediation.
Appropriateness and effectiveness review of the measures taken
We continuously review the effectiveness of preventive and corrective measures after implementation. This evaluation also incorporates new insights, such as those from our risk analysis and feedback from the affected stakeholder groups. If required, we initiate targeted adjustments to further enhance the effectiveness of the measures.
Human Rights at Fresenius
Our Human Rights ProgramContact
Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA
Else-Kröner-Str. 1
61352 Bad Homburg
Germany
humanrights@fresenius.com
Human Rights Program
Our Human Rights Program Group-wide Governance & Responsibilities Risk Assessment & Impact Grievance Procedure & HandlingWhistleblowing system
Reports on possible human rights or other types of compliance violations can be reported around the clock, either anonymously or by name, via our whistleblower system*:
Phone number: +49 (0) 800 181 1338*
https://freseniusgroup.ethicspoint.com
More infos about our grievance mechanism
*The prices of your mobile or landline contract apply
The reporting on the respect for human rights for the year 2024 and following can be found in our Sustainability Report (CSRD Report). Further information on Fresenius' human rights program is available here: fresenius.com/en/human-rights
March 26, 2025
Bad Homburg, Germany
Publication Annual Report 2024
Consolidated Financial Statements and Management Report (IFRS)
Fresenius entered an agreement with Worldwide Hospital Group (WWH) to fully divest Vamed’s international project business (Health Tech Engineering, HTE). In May 2024, Fresenius originally announced a gradual wind-down of the HTE project business, largely to be completed by 2026, as part of Fresenius’ structured exit from its Investment Company Vamed. The divestment will now accelerate the exit and enable Fresenius to further increase focus and management capacity on the ongoing progress of its core businesses Fresenius Kabi and Fresenius Helios, in line with #FutureFresenius. For the employees of Vamed’s international project business, the transaction offers the perspective of the continuation of the business.
Worldwide Hospitals Group (WWH), a healthcare company based in Germany, specializes in delivering flexible modular hospital solutions—both at sea and on land. Vamed's international project business will complement and enhance WWH's core business.
Closing is expected mid of 2025 and subject to the fulfilment of certain closing conditions.
This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Future results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to certain factors, e.g. changes in business, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory reforms, results of clinical trials, foreign exchange rate fluctuations, uncertainties in litigation or investigative proceedings, the availability of financing and unforeseen impacts of international conflicts. Fresenius does not undertake any responsibility to update the forward-looking statements in this release
Fresenius entered an agreement with Worldwide Hospital Group (WWH) to fully divest Vamed’s international project business (Health Tech Engineering, HTE). In May 2024, Fresenius originally announced a gradual wind-down of the HTE project business, largely to be completed by 2026, as part of Fresenius’ structured exit from its Investment Company Vamed. The divestment will now accelerate the exit and enable Fresenius to further increase focus and management capacity on the ongoing progress of its core businesses Fresenius Kabi and Fresenius Helios, in line with #FutureFresenius. For the employees of Vamed’s international project business, the transaction offers the perspective of the continuation of the business.
Worldwide Hospitals Group (WWH), a healthcare company based in Germany, specializes in delivering flexible modular hospital solutions—both at sea and on land. Vamed's international project business will complement and enhance WWH's core business.
Closing is expected mid of 2025 and subject to the fulfilment of certain closing conditions.
Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA (Frankfurt/Xetra: FRE) is a global healthcare company headquartered in Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe, Germany. In the 2023 fiscal year, Fresenius generated €22.3 billion in annual revenue. Fresenius offers solutions to the social challenges posed by a growing and ageing population and the resulting need for affordable, high-quality healthcare. Fresenius currently counts over 175,000 employees. The Fresenius Group comprises the operating companies Fresenius Kabi and Fresenius Helios as well as the investment company Fresenius Medical Care. With 140 hospitals and countless outpatient facilities, Fresenius Helios is the leading private hospital operator in Germany and Spain, treating around 26 million patients every year. Fresenius Kabi’s product portfolio includes a range of highly complex biopharmaceuticals, clinical nutrition, medical technology, and generic intravenous drugs. Fresenius was established in 1912 by the Frankfurt pharmacist Dr. Eduard Fresenius. After his death, Else Kröner took over management of the company in 1952. She laid the foundations for a global enterprise that today pursues the goal of improving people’s health. The largest shareholder is the non-profit Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing medical research and supporting humanitarian projects.