AstraZeneca Partners With Primary Health Care to Help Iowa...( WILMINGTON Del. Jul...),Health

WILMINGTON, Del., July 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AstraZeneca (NYSE: AZN) announced today that it will provide free medication to eligible patients through Primary Health Care in Des Moines, under one of the company's prescription savings programs.

The AZ&Me(TM) Prescription Savings program for healthcare facilities provides medicines free of charge to community free clinics, community health centers, hospitals and other qualifying facilities that serve patients without prescription drug coverage. This enables patients to quickly get the medicines they need, often at the same place they receive their medical care.

"AstraZeneca believes it is important to help those who need our medicines," said Jennifer McGovern, Director, Patient Assistance Programs, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP. "We understand that our medicines don't do patients any good if they cannot access them."

In 2008, AstraZeneca provided $8.6 million in savings to more than 5,400 patients in Iowa. Nationally, the company helped more than 440,000 patients save $612 million on their medicines.

Primary Health Care is a nonprofit community health center dedicated to providing healthcare and supportive services for people in Central Iowa to improve their quality of life. In 2008, Primary Health Care served nearly 22,300 patients by providing more than 70,000 medical, dental and mental health visits to residents of Polk and Marshall Counties. Of those served by Primary Health Care, 55 percent are uninsured.

"At Primary Health Care, we believe that everyone is entitled to quality health care regardless of their financial status," said Kelly Huntsman, Executive Director, Primary Health Care. "Through our collaboration with AstraZeneca, we will be able to provide soluti
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