Novo Nordisk,  a leading position within areas such as haemostasis management, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy, ranks second on the 2014 Access to Medicine Index, climbing four places since the 2012 Index. Novo Nordisk's ranking is a reflection of the company's inclusion of access to medicine within its core business, including equitable pricing strategies, local capability building and integrating philanthropy with business activities.

In 2013, Novo provided medical treatments for approximately 24.3 million people with diabetes worldwide, showing a 7 per cent increase compared with 2012.

"Today, more than 80 per cent of people with diabetes live in low and middle-income countries where access to medicine and treatment is simply not adequate for the millions in need," says Lars Rebien Sørensen, chief executive officer at Novo Nordisk. "Last year, we launched our Strategy for Global Access to Diabetes Care strengthening our already existing efforts to break down barriers that inhibit access to care and help us reach 40 million people living with diabetes by 2020."

Since Novo Nordisk launched its first access to care strategy in 2001, diabetes has become a major global health challenge. There are now an estimated 387 million people worldwide with diabetes and the number is expected to rise to over half a billion by 2035 .

The 2014 Access to Medicine Index highlighted two of the company's access to diabetes care initiatives the Base of the Pyramid project and the Changing Diabetes in Children programme. The Base of the Pyramid project takes an integrated approach together with faith-based organisations to improve diagnosis, treatment and diabetes education for the working poor in developing countries. The Changing Diabetes in Children programme provides medicine free of cost, treatment and patient education for children living with type 1 diabetes in low-income countries.

"We have the knowledge, capabilities and commitment to improve the health of people living with diabetes regardless of where they live," says Lars Rebien Sørensen. "As the world leader in diabetes care, we will continue to work with governments, health organisations and communities to make this a reality across the globe."

The ranking of the 2014 Access to Medicine Index is based on measurements of 21 pharmaceutical companies' policies and practices in improving access to medicine across a specific range of countries, diseases and product types. The Access to Medicine Index is published every two years.