eyeforpharma Philadelphia 2014

Apr 15, 2014 - Apr 16, 2014, Philadelphia

Make customer centricity work: smart pharma mindsets, models and technology that will seal commercial success

Pharma and Stakeholders save lives in Africa

AstraZeneca wins "Most Impactful emerging or global Initiative" for its long-term commitment to increase access to medicines to meet unmet medical needs



Astrazeneca's focused and long-term commitment to life-saving initiatives in Africa made it a unanimous choice by the judging panel of industry experts in the category for the "Most Impactful emerging or global Initiative" at the eyeforpharma Awards on 18th March in Barcelona.

It is estimated that by 2020, cancer could kill 10.3 million people worldwide, with a 50-75% increase in Sub-Saharan Africa. Working closely with stakeholders to drive continued progress in healthcare, the company has focused on four key life-saving initiatives within the Africa.

AstraZeneca South Africa started Phakamisa (a Zulu word for ‘uplift’) in 2010 to train both the physicians, volunteers and patients in treating breast cancer. Its success lead to the start of a similar, ground-breaking partnership in Kenya called Pambazuka, a word that means sunrise, or a new start, in Swahili.

Working alongside the Kenyan branch of the Foundation for Professional Development and the African Cancer Foundation, Pambazuka increased the number of healthcare professionals proficient in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and in training volunteers who can provide patient support. In total, the company trained 200 doctors and nurses throughout Kenya.

In June 2013, AstraZeneca launched Enidaso (meaning ‘hope’) in Ghana with the intention of building on the achievements of the two earlier programmes. Enidaso is a partnership with two international cancer-focused organisations that work to facilitate getting women through Ghana’s overburdened healthcare system, so that they can be treated, not only medically but also through counseling, reassurance and support.

At the same time, AstraZeneca launched a Research Grant in Kenya to increase medical capacity by promoting research. The AstraZeneca Kenya Research Grant is a groundbreaking initiative to facilitate research into both communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Africa. For the next three years, AstraZeneca will invest US$100 000 a year in a variety of research projects in Kenya, with the aim of building medical capacity in the country through providing support to experienced medical academics

“What differentiates Enidaso and Pambazuka from other outreach projects in developing markets is that they are sustainable", says Paul Simms, Chairman of eyeforpharma.

“AstraZeneca is not just donating a whole lot of medicines and then stepping back. This is a long term commitment which includes providing its cancer treatments at greatly reduced prices so that these initiatives can become self-funding. All the judges felt that it is this that made AstraZeneca an extremely worthy winner of this award.”



eyeforpharma Philadelphia 2014

Apr 15, 2014 - Apr 16, 2014, Philadelphia

Make customer centricity work: smart pharma mindsets, models and technology that will seal commercial success