Press Release
New Zealand Prime Minister opens new healthcare facility
At a reception held today the Prime Minister, the Hon. John Key MP, opened a new healthcare facility, Baxter South Island Pharmacy Services and Distribution Centre, operated by Baxter Healthcare Ltd. The NZ$3.6 million medication compounding facility will service all six South Island District Health Boards (DHBs) who signed a joint public/private agreement with Baxter in 2009 for the provision of aseptic compounded products including chemotherapy for cancer patients.
Baxter is a leading healthcare company that has operated in New Zealand (NZ) for over 30 years. This current facility is another sign of the company's commitment to long term partnerships in New Zealand health and allows the South Island DHBs to access aseptic products and services from a facility that will have state of the art technology and quality assurance processes.
David Akeroyd, ANZ Managing Director says: "Baxter is proud to be involved in this landmark private/public partnership and continue our investment and expansion to support the NZ health infrastructure. The Baxter Pharmacy Service facility will ensure capacity for the growing demand of compounded medications and continued support of the six local DHB's with all Baxter products, as well as Renal home patients from one consolidated facility."
Physicians and their patients will have access to a comprehensive range of treatments options, available in a responsive time frame from a local facility. Pharmaceutical compounding involves the sterile manipulation of raw materials to create a patient ready formula.
Mr Akeroyd explains: "Our aim is to support the hospital pharmacies with the manufacture of aseptic compounded products including intravenous chemotherapy, nutrition, analgesics and antibiotic medications. This reduces the risks and potential for medication error associated with some of these materials and gives hospital staff the opportunity to focus on the direct care for patients."
Baxter expects agreement, which led to the building of the facility, will offer returns to the NZ economy.
Mr Akeroyd says: "We have created over 16 new jobs to service the agreement with the South Island DHBs and provided economic benefit to NZ via our investment of NZ$3.6 million to build the facility".
The District Health Boards that will be serviced by the Baxter Pharmacy Services in Christchurch include Canterbury DHB, Otago DHB, Nelson Marlborough DHB, West Coast DHB, South Canterbury DHB and Southland DHB.
About Baxter International Inc.
Baxter International Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures and markets products that save and sustain the lives of people with haemophilia, immune disorders, infectious diseases, kidney disease, trauma, and other chronic and acute medical conditions. As a global, diversified healthcare company, Baxter applies a unique combination of expertise in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to create products that advance patient care worldwide.
