Boehringer Ingelheim and AmeriCares Partner to Expand Product Donations Program Globally
Ridgefield, Conn., October 15, 2014 – Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation announced today it is providing a free supply of hypertension medicines to approximately 140 patients in Santiago de Maria, El Salvador. The donation is an expansion of its Product Donations Program, which provides a free supply of medication to patients in need. This contribution marks the first time Boehringer Ingelheim has partnered with AmeriCares to provide a dedicated supply of medication to patients outside of the United States.
The AmeriCares Family Clinic in Santiago de Maria manages more than 6,000 patient visits each month. The clinic provides high quality, multidisciplinary healthcare services to the underserved families throughout the many regions of El Salvador.
“More than one third of Salvadorans live below the poverty level, suffering from poor living conditions, water pollution, and contaminated soils,” said Lilly Ackley, president, Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation. “We at the Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation, along with our longstanding partner, AmeriCares, saw a distinct need to provide underserved Salvadoran patients with improved access to healthcare.”
Among the specialty services at the Santiago de Maria AmeriCares Family Clinic are pediatrics, gynecology, internal medicine, psychology, nutrition, mammography, X-Ray services, ultrasounds, electrocardiograms, respiratory therapy, bone density screening, minor surgery and pharmacy services.
"We make every effort to simplify the treatment process by offering medical exams, diagnostic testing and pharmacy services on site, and yet approximately 20 percent of patients with chronic diseases do not acquire their full prescription due to the cost," said Dr. Aníbal Quijano, Medical Director of the AmeriCares Family Clinic in El Salvador. "Often, patients have to choose between buying medicine or food for their families. With this gift from Boehringer Ingelheim, many will not have to make that decision."
Earlier this year, Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation produced a portfolio of critically needed medicines for more than 3,000 eligible, uninsured Americans, distributed by AmeriCares to free clinics across the U.S.
In 2013, Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation donated more than $130 million in medicines to eligible U.S. patients through its Patient Assistant Program. Over its 13-year history, the Foundation has donated $1.375 billion in medicines in the U.S. and around the world.
More information about the Foundation’s programs and impact are available at http://givingreport.us.boehringer-ingelheim.com. The Giving Report is also available in Spanish at http://givingreport.us.boehringer-ingelheim.com/index-es.php.
About Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation
Boehringer Ingelheim Cares Foundation is a private foundation with a mission to provide “more health” to patients, families and communities through its four major programs:
- A Patient Assistance Program that makes our branded medicines available free of charge to patients without prescription insurance coverage who meet certain household income criteria
- A Product Donation Program that donates BI medicines to approved non-profit partners who meet certain standards, and who distribute the medicines around the world where there is tremendous unmet need
- A Financial Contributions Program that provides financial support to Connecticut programs that improve access to healthcare and enhance math and science education for the underserved
- A Volunteer Program through which employees choose causes that are important to them and donate their time and skills to strengthen our communities
About Boehringer Ingelheim
The Boehringer Ingelheim group is one of the world’s 20 leading pharmaceutical companies. Headquartered in Ingelheim, Germany, it operates globally with 142 affiliates and more than 47,400 employees. Since it was founded in 1885, the family-owned company has been committed to researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing novel medications of high therapeutic value for human and veterinary medicine.
Social responsibility is a central element of Boehringer Ingelheim's culture. Involvement in social projects, caring for employees and their families, and providing equal opportunities for all employees form the foundation of the global operations. Mutual cooperation and respect, as well as environmental protection and sustainability are intrinsic factors in all of Boehringer Ingelheim’s endeavors.
In 2013, Boehringer Ingelheim achieved net sales of about €14.1 billion. R&D expenditure corresponds to 19.5% of net sales.
For more information, please visit http://us.boehringer-ingelheim.com, and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/boehringerus.
About AmeriCares
AmeriCares is an emergency response and global health organization committed to saving lives and building healthier futures for people in crisis in the United States and around the world. Every day, AmeriCares puts critically needed medicines and supplies in the hands of frontline health workers and develops innovative, sustainable health improvements in their communities. AmeriCares has a four-star rating – the highest possible from Charity Navigator – and reaches more than 90 countries every year with its emergency response work and global health programs. For more information, visit americares.org