Lilly Korea certified by Seoul City as leading company in overcoming dementia

Lilly Korea has been designated as a leading company in the fight against dementia.

Lilly Korea said the Seoul Metropolitan Government selected it as a leading company for dementia recovery on Nov. 25 and received a commemorative plaque on Monday.

The certification is part of the “Dementia Partner Project,” conducted by the National Dementia Center as part of the national dementia policy. It is awarded to companies that make substantial contributions to creating a dementia-friendly social culture.

To contribute to the creation of a dementia-friendly environment, Lilly completed the “dementia partner training” on Nov. 4 at the Dementia Relief Center in Chung-gu, Seoul. Through the training, Lilly employees learned basic information about dementia, how to communicate with patients, how to prevent dementia, and how they can empathize with the challenges faced by people with dementia and their families and provide them with the support they need.

Lilly will continue to engage with the local community actively to support and help people living with dementia and their families, the company said.

“The rapidly aging population and the increasing number of people living with dementia is a major challenge that goes beyond the individual and has a profound impact on society as a whole,” Lilly Korea CEO John Bickle said.

He continued, “This certification demonstrates our commitment to positively impacting the lives of people with dementia and their families in Korea. We will use this as a springboard to expedite the supply of Alzheimer's treatments to patients in Korea and strive to improve the healthcare environment so that patients receive optimal care.”

The number of dementia patients in Korea is increasing rapidly every year due to the rapid pace of aging.

According to the “Dementia Status in Korea 2023” released by the National Dementia Center this year, the number of people with dementia in the country increased by about 28,000 in 2022 compared to the previous year. The estimated number of dementia patients aged 65 and over in the country was about 750,000 in 2018. However, it was estimated to be about 940,000 in 2022, increasing by about 50,000 annually.

Dementia has a significant impact on the patient, the family, and society, requiring a multifaceted approach to prevent and manage it.

The government is building a system for systematic national dementia management by opening 256 dementia care centers nationwide under the Dementia Care Act. Dementia relief centers are under the umbrella of the National Dementia Center and conduct activities such as early screening, counseling, registration, and rehabilitation programs for people with dementia in their area.