GSK launches interactive "The Mobile Health Advisory Campaign" to enhance health awareness

13 Sep 2002

Bangkok--Sep 13--GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand)

GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand) Co., Ltd. today launched the "Mobile Health Advisory Campaign" which is a part of its public educational programmes worth 50 million baht aimed at making Thais aware of healthy living.

The launch at Siam Discovery Centre, was presided over by HE Minister of Public Health Sudarat Keyuraphan who was joined by leading Thai sports personalities including Tammy (Tamarine Tanasugarn), Zico (Kiattisak Senamuang), Prom Meesawad and Waen (Sirirat Yonyodhinkul).

According to Mr. Steven Drew, Managing Director of GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand), the "Mobile Health Advisory Campaign" is aimed at raising the awareness of young people, as well as the general public around Thailand, to be health conscious especially in regard to the escalation of chest diseases including the prevention of asthma attack and the hazards of smoking.

The National Statistical Office reported that about 12 million Thai people aged from 11 years old smoke cigarettes.

Statistics from the Allergy and Immunology Association of Thailand show that there are currently some five million Thais, or an equivalent of nine percent of the population, who suffer from asthma.

"To achieve awareness of healthy living, we have created an entertaining and educational mobile unit with well equipped educational display boards, games and videos highlighting health and sports information. Visitors can also check their breathing capacity and ask any health questions they may have through our disease information hotlines. We are confident that people will not only gain more quality health information but have fun participating in the recreational games," he said.

Mr. Drew added, "After the launch today we will visit other parts of Bangkok which will include meeting students at various educational institutions. From November, the mobile unit will travel to other major provinces throughout Thailand.

"We believe our campaign will enhance people's awareness of healthcare and encourage them to spend time on sports activities and ultimately enjoy better health," he added.

"As an organization committed to research and development of the best possible medication and healthcare for the benefit of patient well-being, GlaxoSmithKline's business philosophy is to improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer," Mr. Drew said.

Other GlaxoSmithKline educational projects include the "GSK-Nursing Excellence" programme which currently provides education to some 150 underprivileged youngsters each year to be trained as nurses under the Praboromarajchanok Institute of Health Manpower Development, Ministry of Public Health.

GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world's leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, employs over 300 staff in Thailand and has an annual turnover in excess of 2,000 million baht in this country.

GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand) Ltd.

Fact Sheet

GSK Mission

To improve the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better, and live longer

Products & Services

Marketing pharmaceuticals and consumer healthcare products

Number of Staff Employed Locally : Over 300 employees

Overview

GlaxoSmithKline is one the world's leading research-based healthcare companies, with global sales in excess of US$ 29,504 million in 2001. GSK has a long history in the Thai pharmaceutical market and is a well-known and well-respected leader of the industry.

The GlaxoWellcomeVidhyasom factory was founded in 1964. The original two commercial companies, GlaxoWellcome (Thailand) and Smithkline Beecham (Thailand) were founded in 1972 and 1982 respectively. In January 2001, GlaxoWellcome and SmithKline Beecham combined the business to form the largest pharmaceutical and healthcare company in Thailand.

Management Team

  • Managing Director:

Mr. Steven Drew (Company Director)

  • Corporate Communications

Mrs. Krongtong Mitrevej

& Government Affairs Director

  • Medical Director

Dr. Sunettra Chinnapha

  • Finance Director

Mrs. Poranee Bunsaisup (Company Director)

  • Regulatory & Supply Chain Director

Mrs. Jintana Kietsuranon

  • Human Resources & Organisation

Mr. Stephen J. Camilleri

Development Director

  • IT Director

Mrs. Rattipa Tipwong

  • Core Business Unit Director

Mr. Chanchai Thamromdee

  • Special Business Unit Director

Mrs. Nipa Siwanantakul

  • Drugstore Business Unit Director

Mr. Apichart Kattiyapirak

Structure of Business

There are two business sectors:

  • Pharmaceutical

The pharmaceutical business is managed as two strategic business units including a drug-store business. The business is much like that of any GSK company with a strategic focus on Respiratory, Antibiotics, Metabolics and Vaccines.

  • Consumer Healthcare

Operating in the fiercely competitive environment of retail and consumer marketing, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare brings oral healthcare, over-the-counter medicines and nutritional healthcare products to millions of people.

Therapeutic areas

  • Antibiotics
  • Respiratory
  • Antiretroviral
  • Vaccines
  • Antidiabetes
  • Smoking cessation

Community Partnership Programs

Committed to improving the health status of people in Thailand, GSK is actively involved in several health education and community partnership programs including:

  • Nursing Excellence Program: Initiated in 1997, the GSK Nursing Excellence Program has funded nursing education/training for 252 students from rural areas across Thailand. 100 graduates are now working in hospitals and healthcare organisations in rural areas.
  • Fighting Dengue Fever in Thailand: In February 2002, GSK donated 40 fogging machines to the Ministry of Public Health to fight Dengue fever in Thailand.
  • UNICEF Program: GSK contributed a fund worth 500,000 baht to UNICEF's Support Thai Children Program
  • Quit to Win Program: A smoking cessation project to raise people's awareness of anti-smoking and provide information related to smoking has been launched through exhibitions, a website (www.thaiquit.com) and a hotline (0 2350 4000).

For more information please contact:

1. Areerat Tanglertpaibul

Communications & Corporate Affairs Manager, GlaxoSmithKline (Thailand) Ltd. Tel 0 2659 3000 Direct Tel. 0 2659 3093 Mobile 0 1812 5915

2. Voranan Chakamanon

Public Affairs Advisor

Tel. 0 2634 3001 Mobile 0 9120 9772 End.

-PW/SN-

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