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Papua New Guinea receives free anti-infective medicine for unlimited time
Monday October 17, 2005
The nation's leading pharmaceutical company, Pfizer Australia, has announced that unlimited supplies of its anti-fungal medication, DiflucanŽ (fluconazole), are being provided - free-of-charge and for an unlimited time - to people living with two AIDS-related infections in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
PNG has been included in the Diflucan Partnership, a program supplying the anti-infective medicine to countries on the World Health Organisation's list of 50-least developed nations. Priority is given to countries with a HIV/AIDS prevalence of greater than one percent.
The Diflucan Partnership operates without dollar or time limits. The announcement was made in Brisbane today with PNG Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare.
"The first shipment of Diflucan has arrived in PNG and is being distributed through the National Catholic HIV/AIDS Office's network of care centres," said Pfizer Australia Managing Director John Young.
"Pfizer Inc is working closely with governments, Non Government Organisations, the United Nations and the WHO in developing countries around the world to ensure that Diflucan reaches eligible patients who cannot afford treatment.
"The Partnership will also provide education and training resources for healthcare professionals in PNG to ensure that DiflucanŽ is used appropriately in these patients."
Mr Young said the HIV/AIDS situation in PNG is tragic and this commitment is by no means a complete solution.
"No one organisation, government or company can solve the problem on its own, but by working together we can save many lives and improve the quality of life for many others while research continues around the world to find a cure."
"The Diflucan Partnership uses existing distribution networks in targeted countries, with the approval of the appropriate government and medical authorities. To this end, we recognise the work put in by both the National Catholic HIV/AIDS Office and the PNG Ministry of Health.
Mr Young said today's announcement is part of a bigger picture.
"Since 2001, Pfizer Australia has been working with a number of other pharmaceutical companies, health organisations and Medicines Australia as the Collaboration for Health in PNG, to provide culturally relevant training for health care teams across PNG to improve healthcare for patients with HIV/AIDS."
Mr Young said HIV/AIDS is a global problem that was especially serious in PNG where, according to the National HIV/AIDS Support Project, the country has the highest rates of sexually transmitted infections and HIV in the Pacific, with as many as 69,000 HIV positive individuals.
Diflucan is not an AIDS medication but is offered through this program to treat two opportunistic infections:
- cryptococcal meningitis-an infection of the lining of the brain-that afflicts approximately 10 percent of AIDS patients, and;
- oesophageal candidiasis-an infection of the oesophagus-that afflicts an estimated 30 percent of AIDS patients.
The Diflucan Partnership Programme was first implemented in South Africa in April 2001.
The extent of HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa also provided impetus for Pfizer Inc to fund the establishment of the Infectious Diseases Institute in Uganda at a cost of almost $A20m.
As of September 2005, Pfizer has donated Diflucan to governments and NGOs operating in more than 1100 sites in 42 developing countries. Through the program, Pfizer has treated more than 200,000 patients, and trained more than 19,000 health care workers in the diagnosis and treatment of fungal opportunistic infections.
PNG becomes only the third country in the Asia-Pacific Region (after Cambodia and Vietnam) and the nearest to Australia to be included in the Diflucan Partnership.
Pfizer Australia is the nation's leading research-based health care company. It discovers, develops, manufactures and markets innovative medicines for both humans and animals. Pfizer Australia is investing more than $A42m in local research and development. For more information, visit the links on this website.
Diflucan (fluconazole) is used for certain fungal and yeast infections and is only available with a doctor's prescription. Diflucan should not be taken in conjunction with certain medicines such as cisapride. Some medicines and Diflucan can interfere with each other. Diflucan can have unwanted side effects. Use in pregnancy and while breastfeeding is not recommended. If you have any questions about Diflucan speak to your doctor.
Diflucan is authority PBS-listed in Australia for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis in patients unable to take or tolerate amphotericin; Maintenance therapy in patients with cryptococcal meningitis and immunosuppression; Treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis and oesophageal candidiasis in immunosuppressed patients; Secondary prophylaxis of oropharyngeal candidiasis in immunosuppressed patients and treatment of serious and life-threatening candida infections in patients unable to tolerate amphotericin. The Consumer product Information can be viewed here.