Novartis, Roche, Lonza and Syngenta have staff: Swiss pharmaceutical giants are worried about their employees in Israel

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Hospitals in Israel have been busy for more than a week: The attack by the terrorist organization Hamas has resulted in more than 1,400 deaths and 3,000 injuries so far. Swiss medicine is also needed to care for the victims.

The pharmaceutical industry accounts for the lion’s share of exports from Switzerland to Israel. Total exports for 2022: 780 million francs. Roche, Novartis and Lonza also operate in Israel. According to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco), approximately 30 Swiss companies have branches in Israel.

Medicine supply continues at full speed

Basel-based pharmaceutical company Roche employs 175 people in Israel. In a statement to the Aargauer Zeitung, Roche said its teams will “work tirelessly” to ensure the supply of medicines and diagnostics to patients in Israel. All employees are safe.

The safety of employees at Novartis is also a “top priority,” the company told the newspaper. The pharmaceutical giant employs 200 people in Tel Aviv. You are in regular contact with them. Novartis condemned the “terrorist acts committed against the Israeli people.”

Lonze made similar comments in the report. Pharmaceutical supplier Valais operates a research and development facility in Haifa. Developments are being watched with concern.

Syngenta limits production

At Syngenta, production in southern Israel is carried out “under certain restrictions”. The pesticide manufacturer is deeply shocked by this “unprecedented attack” on Israel. Syngenta, headquartered in Basel, is under Chinese control. “We have always had strong ties with Israel” through the Adama business unit and our subsidiary Zeraim Gedera.

According to the “Aargauer Zeitung”, no company dares to make a prediction. Seco cannot yet predict the effects of the war on the region. One thing is clear: Israel’s thriving start-up scene is suffering from war. (kae)

Source :Blick