Abbott's Global Citizenship Programme, which assists and supports societies and communities throughout the world, is central to the company's business and recognises both the rights and responsibilities that all people - not just companies - have to their neighbours and environment.

We make our pharmaceuticals, medical devices and nutritional products available through company and industry patient assistance programmes.

We also work with governments and other organisations to remove underlying barriers to healthcare. Much of our work focuses on HIV/AIDS, where Abbott is engaged on many fronts to improve the healthcare infrastructure in developing countries and to support patients and medical staff.

In 2009, the total investment from Abbott and the Abbott Fund (the not-for-profit philanthropic organisation established by Abbott in 1951) was $580 million through capacity-building partnerships, product donations and patient assistance programmes, reaching millions of people worldwide.

To learn more about Abbott's global citizenship initiatives, go to www.abbott.com/citizenship