AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) announced today that it is providing medicines at no cost to qualifying patients at the Primary Care Center Pharmacy in Sacramento, California.
AstraZeneca's partnership with the Sacramento County Pharmacy is an expansion of its AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings program that provides medicines at no cost to health facilities around the country. The Sacramento County Pharmacy is the ninth organization in California to join the program.
"The partnership with Sacramento County will help patients who might otherwise go without the medicines they need," said Jennifer McGovern, director, patient assistance programs, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP.
The Primary Care Center Pharmacy provides pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to nearly all departments within Sacramento County, dispensing an average of 1,200 prescriptions to patients per day. Over the last eight years, the pharmacy's free drug programs have grown from one program with annual savings of $300,000 to 16 programs with annual savings in excess of $4.4 million. Approximately 25,000 uninsured patients benefit from the program.
"Working with AstraZeneca, the pharmacy will be able to get medicines to the people who need them, while focusing our resources on delivering programs and services to residents," said Steve Golka, director of pharmacy services, County of Sacramento.
Carrie's Touch, an organization that educates and empowers African-American women living with breast cancer in the Greater Sacramento area, praised the collaboration.
"I was fortunate enough to personally benefit from AZ&Me after losing my job and medical insurance," said Rev. Tammie Denyse, Carrie's Touch founder and president. "Without the support of this program, I would not have been able to receive my cancer medicine during this critical point in my treatment process. I am grateful this program exists."
Sacramento County Supervisor Roger Dickinson said, "AstraZeneca's commitment to providing free medicine is a crucial part of getting Sacramentans the care they need during tough economic times. Many low-income workers don't have access to employer-sponsored health insurance and others lost coverage when they became unemployed during the recession. Donated medicine ensures people get needed care and relieves financial pressure on an overburdened county health system."
In 2009, AstraZeneca provided more than $27.7 million in savings to more than 15,900 patients in California under its prescription savings programs – known as AZ&Me. Nationally, the company helped more than 507,000 patients save $769.6 million on their medicines.
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