Resumen

URDANETA, Mary Josefina. Social Responsibility in the Pharmaceutical Industry in Zulia.. Revista Venezolana de Gerencia [online]. 2008, vol.13, n.41, pp.49-72. ISSN 1315-9984.

The objective of this study was to describe the social responsibility elements present in the pharmaceutical industry in the State of Zulia.  The research was descriptive, using the population of the pharmaceutical industry registered with the Industrial Chamber in the State of Zulia. The data-collection technique was the self-administered questionnaire. Results indicated that significant evidence for the presence of social responsibility elements exists in the pharmaceutical industry, principally in its relation to internal interest groups and those oriented toward occupational health in the companies. Nevertheless, in terms of the way these companies relate to their external interest group, few elements were in evidence, indicating that these relationships were weakened from a social responsibility perspective. Companies should strengthen these relationships, since social responsibility cannot be understood only from a company’s internal perspective, but extends far beyond this; and if a significant advance has been made in this area, it is necessary that social responsibility practices be incorporated into these groups that are so important for development of the company and the communities.

Palabras clave : Social Responsibility; interest groups; pharmaceutical industry; stockholders.