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PHSB Announces Public Private Partnership for Global Health 2006-2007 Action Plan

Mobile Heath Care for HIV/AIDS Relief in Vietnam

(OAKLAND) November 03, 2006 - Public Health Service Bureau (PHSB) and Sojitz Corporation of America signed a Letter of Intent today with Nguyen Van Kinh, Vice Director General of the Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control (VAAC) and the Global Fund for HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. The Letter stipulates strengthening collaboration between government ministries, NGO's, and private enterprises across Japan, Vietnam, and the United States to address the AIDS epidemic in Vietnam.

Over a five-day period, the PHSB/Sojitz delegation conducted numerous fact-finding meetings in Tokyo, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hanoi in order to promote a mobile information tracking system for HIV/AIDS patients. Some of the meetings were held with:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

  • U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
  • Ministry of Health, Vietnam
  • Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
  • Center for Disease Control/PEPFAR
  • Hospital for Tropical Disease, HCMC
  • Bach Mai Hospital, Hanoi

With over 30 years of experience in public health and over 12 years specializing in HIV/AIDS programs, PHSB - in conjunction with Sojitz - can bring to Vietnam its expertise in information technology, community outreach and capacity building, education and training, and monitoring and evaluation. PHSB has been a proven service provider in California and Washington for the U.S. Federal Government's AIDS Drug Assistance Program, managing more than $245 million of its budget. Its comprehensive health program operates on less than 4% overhead cost.

One of the key challenges in Vietnam is the widespread rate of infection in rural areas, making it difficult for these patients to be transported to the city center for treatment. The main objectives of the mobile health care system is to provide a simple, low-cost way to test persons for HIV, distribute antiretroviral (ARV) medication to infected persons in the community, to keep track of treatment and medication use, and to enroll these persons in the system to ensure proper adherence of treatment.

In turn, this public-private partnership can strengthen Vietnam's health system by:  

  • Improving surveillance mechanisms not only for HIV/AIDS, but for other infectious diseases;
  • Implementing an information management system on prevention and treatment; and
  • Developing capacity for training, monitoring, and evaluation in the community, in clinics/hospitals, and even in pharmacies.

PHSB is part of the Ramsell Corporation family businesses and supports the Flowers Heritage Foundation (FHF), a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, whose focus is to make a difference in the fight against HIV/AIDS. HIV/AIDS is its first priority and is a cause that the Flowers family has focused on for decades. CEPEX, another 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is funded by the Nissho Iwai Foundation and supported by Sojitz Corporation. It promotes understanding and exchange between the United States and Japan.

PHSB/Sojitz and CEPEX/FHF remain dedicated to work with all stakeholders to improve the lives of HIV/AIDS infected patients in Vietnam. We are entering into our fundraising stage of our Action Plan in order to launch a pilot program in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. We are kindly requesting funds or cash-in-kind to assist us in this pilot program. Such assistance may include:

  • 1000 laptop PC's
  • PDA's and/or cell phones
  • Software development programs for mobile system
  • Administration expenses to cover pilot program
  • Additional support for telecommunications infrastructure

We sincerely value your assistance and cooperation in our determined efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. We believe that this mobile health care system is an encouraging step towards educating and preventing further spread of this disease.

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Ramsell Public Health Rx Awarded Colorado State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program Contract

Oakland, Calif., May 12, 2008 - Ramsell Public Health Rx today announced that it will administer a full suite of Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) solutions for the Bridging the Gap, Colorado (BTGC) program, a State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP) that covers the costs of a participant’s Medicare deductible, co-payment and coinsurance. The customizable PBM solution will provide a comprehensive package to meet BTGC’s service needs, including coordination of benefits, claims adjudication, pharmacy network management and data management.

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