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Press releases 2005

Almus® donates essential medicines for emergency doctor travel packs in Pakistan
17 October 2005

Almus Pharmaceuticals (UK), via UniChem Ltd, has donated 1,400 packs of Bendroflumethazide, Furosemide and Prednisalone to International Health Partners (IHP). The medicines have been included in Doctor Travel Packs (DTPs) taken by UK doctors, paramedics and surgeons to Pakistan last week.

IHP working in co-operation with WHO have requested that only specifically requested, quality, in-date medicines be sent. The WHO has provided IHP with the list of essential medicines approved for use in Pakistan and donations of medicines can only be accepted directly from wholesalers, manufacturers or pharmaceutical and medical suppliers. Donations would also be welcomed to help meet the costs of handling and shipment of supplies (see www.ihpuk.org).

The doctor's travel pack contains over 35 different medicines with a UK wholesale value of £2,750. Packed into two hand portable boxes weighing less than 30kg, the packs provide UK doctors with the primary healthcare medicines and supplies they need when travelling overseas and to emergency situations.

Tony Foreman, Group Director of Commercial Activities, Alliance UniChem and CEO of Almus Pharmaceuticals says, "Almus® is proud to support the Doctor's Travel Pack. This innovative scheme provides a practical demonstration of how the pharmaceutical industry can pull together to offer doctors immediate access to the essential medicines they need, when and where they need them".

The pack has been made possible by a partnership of over 20 companies from the UK pharmaceutical industry working together with International Health Partners (IHP). The donations have enabled IHP to assemble the first 50 packs, expected to be distributed by Christmas, bringing treatment to 50,000 children and adults in the developing world.