DKSH Hong Kong is the sole sponsor for the program which aims to help patients shorten the diagnostic time and to precisely trace for atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS).
Media release
Hong Kong, August 24, 2021 – DKSH, the leading Market Expansion Services provider with a focus on Asia and beyond, is providing full sponsorship through Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Care Foundation (HKPCF) to qualifying patients taking ADAMTS13 diagnostic tests. This is a fixed quota program and is opened for application until March 31, 2022.
aHUS is a rare life-threatening and aggressive disorder, primarily caused by inherited or acquired abnormalities of proteins involved in controlling the complement cascade of our immune system. aHUS is characterized with manifestations of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA), which includes damages and blockages of small blood vessels, leading to blood cell destruction and multiorgan disfunctions, predominantly the kidneys.1 ADAMTS13 activity assay is commonly performed to diagnosis or exclude thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a condition which also present with TMA.2
This sponsorship program is a collaborative result between the rare disease unit of DKSH Hong Kong Business Unit Healthcare and HKPCF. Established in 2020, the team has been taking up four key roles: introducing new medical treatment, improving patients' accessibility, participating in government, associations and stakeholders' liaisons, and running general public awareness.
Ms. S. C. Chiang, the Director at HKPCF said, "At HKPCF, one of our missions is to provide assistance to needy patients to improve their accessibility to prompt diagnosis, and to obtain the right treatment to relieve their health burden. Through collaboration with various partners, our service will be better facilitated and appreciated."
Wai Ting Fong, Head of Management and Vice President of Healthcare, Hong Kong & Macau, is proud of the support, “The sponsorship is truly reflecting our Business Unit Healthcare's mission ‘healthcare for all'. Rare disease patients need to constantly face the challenges to locate the available treatment and seek financial aids at the same time. It is truly our first step to support them through this program.”
The eligibility criteria for the subsidy are announced on HKPCF website: http://www.pcfhk.org/en/pharmacy?id=38
Remarks:
1. Pugh D, O'Sullivan ED, Duthie FAI, Masson P, Kavanagh D. Interventions for atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst. Rev. 2021;2021(3):.
2. Goodship THJ, Cook HT, Fakhouri F, et al. Atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome and C3 glomerulopathy: conclusions from a “Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes” (KDIGO) Controversies Conference. Kidney Int. 2016;91(3):539–551.
For further information, please contact:
DKSH Business Unit Healthcare
Sheena Flannery
Director, Group Communications
Phone +66 2 220 9739
sheena.flannery@dksh.com
DKSH Hong Kong
Astrid Lo
Manager, Branding & Communications
Phone +852 2895 9610
astrid.lo@dksh.com
About Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Care Foundation
Founded in 2007, the Hong Kong Pharmaceutical Care Foundation is a registered non-profit charitable organization. The foundation was founded by pharmacists who wish to provide pharmaceutical service and improve elderly medication use in old-age homes. Major service includes visiting pharmacist service, medication packaging service, electronic medication management and administration system. HKPCF also operates SafeMed Dispensary, an Authorized Seller of Poisons, to provide dispensing and drug counseling services to educate patients on proper drug use and to achieve effective drug treatment outcome. www.pcfhk.org/en/
About DKSH
DKSH’s purpose is to enrich people’s lives. For more than 150 years, we have been delivering growth for companies in Asia and beyond across our Business Units Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Performance Materials and Technology. As a leading Market Expansion Services provider, we offer sourcing, market insights, marketing and sales, eCommerce, distribution and logistics as well as after-sales services. Listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, DKSH operates in 36 markets with 32,450 specialists, generating net sales of CHF 10.7 billion in 2020. The DKSH Business Unit Healthcare distributes pharmaceuticals, consumer health and over-the-counter (OTC) products as well as medical devices. With around 7,970 specialists, the Business Unit generated net sales of CHF 5.4 billion in 2020. www.dksh.com/hec