/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ - AmeriCares has awarded its annual Power of Partnership Award to AstraZeneca for its outstanding commitment to increasing access to health care for people in need both here at home and throughout the developing world. In the past year alone, the pharmaceutical company renewed its support for the only breast cancer treatment program for Cambodia's poor, assembled over 14,000 hygiene kits for disaster survivors and, for the second year in a row, donated $5 million in medicines for chronically ill Americans.

AmeriCares President & CEO Curt Welling presented the award today at the Healthcare Distribution Management Association's (HDMA) Business & Leadership Conference in Phoenix. The Power of Partnership Award was created by AmeriCares and HDMA to recognize medical manufacturing and distribution organizations that have shown exceptional dedication to expanding access to medicines and health care for disadvantaged populations.

"AstraZeneca supports our global health programs on every level, from product donations and cash grants to hands-on employee involvement after major disasters," Welling said. "We're restoring health and saving lives every day because of great corporate partners like AstraZeneca."

The company has supported AmeriCares global health programs with over $63 million in product donations since 2003. Over the years, AstraZeneca's lifesaving medicines have reached 68 countries including Cambodia where it supports a program that provides free breast cancer screening, treatment and patient education for impoverished women, along with medical staff training. AstraZeneca, which has been involved since the program's inception in 2007, recently extended its commitment for another three years.

AstraZeneca also supports AmeriCares work in the U.S., from disasters like the recent tornadoes in the South to its ongoing medical aid deliveries to free clinics and community health programs. Over the past two years, AstraZeneca has donated $10 million of medicines for chronically ill Americans without adequate health insurance.

"HDMA is proud to collaborate with AmeriCares to honor a partnership that has truly made a difference in the lives of patients worldwide," said HDMA President and CEO John M. Gray. "We congratulate the AstraZeneca team, whose outstanding humanitarian efforts reflect HDMA members' shared commitment to delivering lifesaving medicines, products and services to those in need."

About AmeriCares
AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization which delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world and across the United States. Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has distributed more than $10 billion in humanitarian aid to 147 countries. For more information, log onto www.AmeriCares.org.

About HDMA
HDMA is the national association representing primary healthcare distributors, the vital link in the healthcare system. Each business day, HDMA member companies ensure that more than nine million prescription medicines and healthcare products are delivered safely and efficiently to 164,000 pharmacies, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and others nationwide. HDMA and its members work daily to provide value and contain costs, saving the nation's healthcare system an estimated $32 billion per year. For more information, visit www.HealthcareDistribution.org.

About AstraZeneca
AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease. AstraZeneca operates in over 100 countries and its innovative medicines are used by millions of patients worldwide. For more information about AstraZeneca in the U.S. or our AZ&Me™ Prescription Savings programs, please visit: www.astrazeneca-us.com or call 1-800-AZandMe (292-6363).

AmeriCares

AmeriCares

AmeriCares is a nonprofit global health and disaster relief organization which delivers medicines, medical supplies and aid to people in need around the world and across the United States. Since it was established in 1982, AmeriCares has distributed more than $10 billion in humanitarian aid to 147 countries. For more information, visit www.AmeriCares.org.

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