Novartis Website Privacy Policy
This Policy applies to all Novartis websites that have URLs. It
is a statement of Novartis' general privacy policy and practices
governing the ways in which we collect, hold and use information
about individual persons. Our privacy policy is easy to find as
it is located on our homepage and is linked to any part of a site
where personal data are requested. At such data collection points,
further explanation may be provided, where appropriate, as to the
purposes for which the data will be used. This Policy, coupled with
any supplementary explanation, is designed to provide privacy protection
tailored to the individual visitor to or user of Novartis' website(s).
Pledge on Privacy
The term "personal data" as used in this Policy
refers to information such as your name, birth date, e-mail address
or mailing address, that can be used to identify you. Novartis will
not process your personal data without your consent. In processing
your personal data, we pledge to fully comply with internationally
recognized standards of privacy protection. In so doing, we ensure
compliance by our staff with strict standards of security and confidentiality.
The next sections explain how and when we collect personal data
from you.
Intended Use of Personal Data
Most of our services do not require any form of registration,
allowing you to visit our site without telling us who you are. However,
some services may require registration. When you register with us,
you may need to complete certain fields (some are required and some
are optional), as well as choose a user name and password. In these
situations, if you choose to withhold any personal data requested
by us, it may not be possible for you to gain access to certain
parts of the site and for us to respond to your query. Novartis
processes personal data for specific and limited purposes which
we inform you about when we ask you for information. For example,
we may collect and use personal data to provide you with products
or services, to bill you for products and services you request,
to market products and services which we think may be if interest
to you, or to communicate with you for other purposes. Information
you send to our customer service department is used only to help
resolve your problem and is otherwise kept private. Novartis keeps
your data only for as long as is reasonably needed for such purposes
and in accordance with any applicable legal or ethical reporting
or documentation retention requirements.
Non-Disclosure of Information
Novartis will not sell, share, or otherwise distribute
your personal data to third parties outside the Novartis group.
However, personal data may occasionally be transferred to third
parties who act for or on behalf of Novartis, or in connection with
the business of Novartis, for further processing in accordance with
the purpose(s) for which the data were originally collected. Where
disclosure of personal data to a third party is likely or necessary
for whatever reason, Novartis will, wherever possible, endeavor
to ensure that the disclosure and intended use of the data are clearly
indicated. Such third parties may operate different privacy policies.
However, we endeavor to ensure that such third parties provide the
same level of protection as Novartis and, where appropriate, we
will contractually require them to process data transferred only
for the purposes expressly authorized by Novartis. We will not share
with third parties any data about you that is sensitive (e.g., medical
information) in the absence of your prior and explicit consent.
Your consent may always be revoked at a later date. If consent is
revoked Novartis may not be able to carry out certain requests made
by you. Novartis will, where practicable, inform third parties to
whom your data have been transferred of your withdrawal of consent.
Right of Access
You have the right to access and update your personal data
or to require their deletion. We endeavor to ensure that personal
data are up-to-date, accurate, and complete. If you wish to access
or correct your personal data held by us, please e-mail our data
protection officer at communications.phcaml@pharma.novartis.com.
Your requests will be dealt with in a prompt and proper manner.
No charge will be levied for complying with a correction request,
however, for all other requests Novartis may charge a small fee
to cover its costs. Requests to delete personal data will be subject
to any applicable legal and ethical reporting or document filing
or retention obligations imposed on Novartis.
Security and Confidentiality
To ensure the security and confidentiality of personal
data that Novartis collects on-line, Novartis uses data networks
protected, inter alia, by industry standard firewall and password
protection. Access to personal data is restricted to those employees
who have a need to use the data and who have been trained to handle
such data properly and observe strict standards of confidentiality.
If an employee breaches our Privacy Policy he/she will be disciplined
accordingly. Staff compliance with our policies and procedures is
regularly audited and reviewed. While we cannot guarantee against
any loss, misuse or alteration to data, we try to prevent such unfortunate
occurrences.
Data Transfer Abroad
Novartis is a global enterprise and has databases in different
jurisdictions. Novartis may transfer your data to one of its databases
outside your country of domicile. If the level of privacy protection
in a country does not comply with recognized international standards,
we will ensure that data transfers to Novartis databases in that
country are adequately protected and that the transfer of data to
third parties in such countries will not occur unless we obtain
your express consent to such transfer in advance.
Anonymous Data and "Cookies"
Most of the information that Novartis collects from its
website(s) is anonymous information, such as the pages you visit
and searches you perform. When you visit our website we do not collect
any personal data from you unless otherwise authorized by you. Anonymous
information is processed by Novartis to help improve the contents
of the site and to compile aggregate statistics about individuals
using our site for internal, market research purposes. In so doing,
Novartis may install "cookies". "Cookies" by
themselves cannot be used to discover the identity of the user.
A "cookie" is a small piece of information which is sent
to your browser and stored on your computer's hard drive. Cookies
do not damage your computer. You can set your browser to notify
you when you receive a "cookie", this will enable you
to decide if you want to accept it or not.
Spamming
Novartis does not condone "spamming". Spamming
is defined as sending unsolicited e-mails, usually of a commercial
nature, in large numbers and repeatedly to individuals with whom
the sender has had no previous contact or who have declined to receive
such communications. In contrast, where Novartis believes that certain
product, health, or other information is of importance to you it
reserves the right to inform you by e-mail whilst giving you the
choice of opting out of such service.
Personal Information and Children
Novartis will not knowingly collect, use or disclose personal
data from a minor under the age of 15, without obtaining prior consent
from a person with parental responsibility (e.g., a parent or guardian)
through direct off-line contact. We will provide the parent with
(i) notice of the specific types of personal data being collected
from the minor, and (ii) the opportunity to object to any further
collection, use, or storage of such information.
Links to Other Sites
This Privacy Policy applies only to Novartis' websites
to the exclusion of third party websites. Novartis may provide links
to other websites which we believe may be of interest to our visitors.
We aim to ensure that such websites are of the highest standard.
However, due to the nature of the World Wide Web, Novartis cannot
guarantee the standards of every website link it provides or be
responsible for the contents of non-Novartis sites.
Contact Novartis
If you have any queries or complaints about our compliance
with this Privacy Policy, or if you would like to make any recommendations
or comments to improve the quality of our Privacy Policy, please
e-mail us at communications.phcaml@pharma.novartis.com.
This privacy policy is effective as of July 1,
2000. We aim to constantly improve the tools available to you to
manage the data that you provide to us. Please refer to this page
from time to time to review these and other new features.
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