DEERFIELD, Ill. -- Baxter Healthcare Corporation has extended its commitment to the World Federation of Hemophilia's (WFH's) Global Alliance for Progress (GAP), a 10-year program aimed at improving disease management for the 75 percent of the world's hemophilia population that is living without adequate care. As a founding sponsor and major contributor to GAP, Baxter applauds WFH's progress in greatly improving the diagnosis and treatment of hemophilia in developing countries. To date, Baxter has committed $1.2 million to this program.

"We know that people with hemophilia who receive high quality care and have access to the most advanced therapies enjoy significantly longer, more fulfilling lives," said Mark Skinner, president, WFH. "Programs like GAP help us achieve our goal of improving quality of life for the global hemophilia community. Next year we hope to expand our efforts to additional developing countries to help us reach this goal."

The life expectancy of a child born with hemophilia in a developing country is less than 20 years, compared to over 60 years in the developed world. Identification of the condition, access to care and trained healthcare professionals are the key factors that extend life expectancy and enhance quality of life.
"We should pause to acknowledge the therapeutic advances and improvements in clinical management practices that have greatly improved hemophilia care," said Joy Amundson, president of Baxter's BioScience business. "What is unique about GAP is its strategic focus for giving that helps assure resources are invested for the most beneficial return. We at Baxter are proud to be a founding sponsor of GAP and are committed to continued support of its work in the future."

GAP's Progress
WFH's ultimate goal with GAP is to increase the diagnosis and improve the treatment of people with hemophilia in up to 30 developing countries. Only four years into the program, participating countries include: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia and Thailand. Program focus areas and corresponding milestones include:
-The care delivery system:
-Identified more than 5,000 new hemophilia patients
-Trained/educated more than 2,000 healthcare professionals, regulators and
hemophilia team members
-Increased knowledge of hemophilia, a highly under-diagnosed and
under-treated condition in developing countries

-Quality and quantity of treatment products:
-Assured broader access to a high standard of care through agreements among six countries. WFH increased resources by up to 120 percent for hemophilia care and treatment products and improved laboratory diagnostic standards in 65 centers across the globe

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