Sun Wave Pharma, the largest nutraceutical company in Romania, has successfully implemented a whistleblowing system to promote a culture of compliance and ethical behaviour. In this customer case interview, Bogdan Fratiloiu, Compliance Director at Sun Wave Pharma, shares how the whistleblowing system has positively impacted their organisation and strengthened their relationship with stakeholders.
Briefly introduce yourself and tell us about your organisation
I am Bogdan Fratiloiu, Compliance Director at Sun Wave Pharma and Deputy Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee of Romanian American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham). Sun Wave Pharma is the largest company in Romania in the field of nutraceuticals, promoting our products to healthcare professionals through a sales force composed from about 360 medical sales representatives. The company extended its operations to include Serbia, Bulgaria, Moldova, and Albania, with plans to venture into additional Eastern European markets.
How did the whistleblowing system enhance transparency and accountability within your organisation?
The whistleblowing system is a key component of the Sun Wave Pharma compliance program, providing individuals with the chance to report misconduct related to the Code of Conduct and other internal procedures. A policy of no retaliation is guaranteed, as well as the requirement to report potential incidents only in good faith. The SWP Whistleblowing procedure is constantly presented to all employees through tailored compliance trainings.
How did the implementation of our whistleblowing system affect your company’s overall compliance culture and the relationship with stakeholders?
The impact is positive because the whistleblowing procedure was presented to all employees through dedicated compliance trainings. People have confidence that when reporting in good faith, the incidents will be investigated accordingly, and remediation measures implemented. The option to report anonymously is crucial as it enhances the trust and also protects the person who reports a potential sensitive issue.
What were the biggest challenges during the implementation process, and how did you overcome them?
The main challenge was to convince people that the procedure and the system is designed to protect them and the company business. Furthermore, it’s challenging to persuade that a non-retaliation policy will function exactly as it is promoted. It is necessary to demonstrate this effectively in case a sensitive issue is reported.
Why did you choose Whistlelink as a provider of your whistleblowing solution?
Whistlelink is an easy-to-use solution, designed to allow for anonymous reporting of any incident, and it has a nice interface. Also, the cases can be followed up and reports can be generated in a very user-friendly manner. We have used Whistlelink for two years and it meets our requirements very well.
Please visit Sun Wave Pharma to gain further insights into our business.
Interested in Whistlelink? Visit our website to learn more about Whistleblowing Protection Laws and how Whistlelink can help you get compliant.
Would you like to discuss a solution for your organisation? Please book a free demo of our system!