NEW YORK, March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pfizer Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Hank McKinnell, in support of a report released this week by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (IFPMA) regarding health partnerships with the developing world, said:
"I strongly support and endorse the pharmaceutical industry's commitment to improving healthcare in the developing world as detailed in the IFPMA report issued this week. At almost $4.4 billion contributed so far this decade, our industry is clearly part of the solution to addressing the urgent medical needs of millions of people in developing countries.
"I also support IFPMA President Vasella's call for individual companies to report regularly on their philanthropic contributions and programs. Pfizer has consistently done this for many years."
Dr. McKinnell will be the next President of IFPMA, a non-profit organization representing research-based pharmaceutical, biotech and vaccine companies around the world.
"Pfizer takes very seriously our commitment to supporting the health care needs of people in developing countries. Over the past five years we have contributed more than $1 billion in product and cash donations to this effort including approximately $350 million in product and cash donations in 2005.
"Our company brings human capital, products, technical expertise, financial resources and leadership to a range of innovative programs across Africa and Asia. One outstanding example is the International Trachoma Initiative, an independent non-governmental organization created in 1998 by Pfizer and the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. The ITI supports the World Health Organization's goal of eliminating blinding trachoma by 2020. This model public private partnership is on track to reach the goal of total elimination of trachoma in Morocco this year."
Pfizer encourages its stakeholders to learn more about these programs by visiting http://www.PhRMA.org, http://www.IFPMA.org or http://www.Pfizer.com.
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