ISTANBUL, September 24 2013 – Today, the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) and the Turkish Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AIFD) convened a meeting of stakeholders to discuss and make recommendations on how to develop best practices and partnerships to improve chronic disease prevention and management in Turkey. Despite significant progress over the last decade in improving the availability and quality of health care throughout the country, chronic non-communicable diseases continue to have a significant impact on the Turkish economy – totaling an estimated $U.S. 80 billion annually in direct and indirect costs.PFCD and AIFD convened the September 24th meeting as a follow-up to a 2012 stakeholder meeting and release of the PFCD international research report Transforming Health in Turkey, published in Ankara last year. Participating stakeholders, including Turkish civil society organizations, international patient group representatives and experts from the medical and business communities in Turkey, discussed and made recommendations on how to develop best practices and partnerships to improve chronic disease prevention and management in Turkey.Further advances in chronic disease prevention and management strategies could boost Turkey’s national economy by 10 per cent, according to the Transforming Health in Turkey report.“Turkey can be rightfully proud of its recent achievements in developing a world-class health care system,” said PFCD Executive Director Kevin Walker. “But as the country continues its economic growth it is also experiencing a dramatic increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. By developing partnership approaches and by sharing best practices with all stakeholders, particularly the patients themselves, much can be done to reduce the social and economic impact of chronic disease in Turkey.”Speaking on behalf of the Turkish Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies, Deputy Secretary General Şükrü Varol noted that “AIFD, on behalf of our members who are committed to finding innovative health care solutions, is proud to support the efforts of the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, Turkey’s Ministry of Health, civil society organizations, patients groups, and other stakeholders in advancing partnerships and workable, affordable solutions for addressing this challenge”PFCD’s Transforming Health in Turkey research report, undertaken by Hacettepe University and University College London, found that about 6.5 million disability adjusted life years are lost by Turkish men and women each year as a result of conditions such as heart disease, strokes, type II diabetes and mental health problems such as treatable depression. Translated into economic terms, this represents a current welfare loss equivalent to 8-10 per cent of the nation’s annual domestic product (GDP).About the Partnership to Fight Chronic DiseasePartnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is an international NGO committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the world: rising rates of preventable and treatable chronic diseases. The PFCD believes that rising rates of chronic health problems pose a significant and unsustainable burden on health care systems, and that the viability and strength of those systems—presently and in the future—relies on a willingness to enact policies that help patients better prevent and manage chronic illnesses.As a result, the mission of the PFCD is to:

• Educate government and other opinion leaders about chronic disease and potential solutions for individuals and communities
• Mobilize citizens to call for change in how governments, employers, and health institutions approach chronic disease
• Challenge policymakers on the health policy changes that are necessary to effectively fight chronic disease

For more information on the PFCD, visit www.pfcdturkey.org or www.fightchronicdisease.org.About AIFDAssociation of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD) was established in 2003, by research-based pharmaceutical companies operating in Turkey, with the objective of enabling Turkish people access new and original drugs and providing effective solutions to the health conditions in our country. AİFD pursues its activities through its head office in Istanbul and its representative office in Ankara.AİFD members focus their efforts on innovation, with the awareness that innovative and original products, developed upon benefiting from the opportunities offered in various fields, such as biogenetics, by the rapidly advancing medical science in our era, extend longevity of humans, enhance their quality of life and generate a value for the society. They work on the basis of integrity, transparency and accountability. AİFD members strive to fulfill all their responsibilities towards the society, placing a priority on the enhancement of the quality of life of Turkish people and presenting solutions to their health conditions.Our vision is to act as a “solution partner” for the healthcare sector and government in Turkey with regard to the difficulties encountered in healthcare, by providing “innovative therapeutic solutions”Our Mission is to contribute to the healthcare sector in Turkey, by enhancing access to “innovative” products, technology and information in the Turkish medical field and creating an “ethical and transparent” environment in the healthcare sector.