SUZHOU, March 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 6, a grand signing ceremony for the tripartite strategic cooperation among the Chinese Nutrition Society, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare, and Guoda Pharmacy was held in Suzhou. Yang Xiaoguang, Vice President of the Chinese Nutrition Society; Sun Guiju, Professor of Nutrition and Food Hygiene at the School of Public Health, Southeast University; Gu Haiying, General Manager of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare China; and Zhao Xiaochuan, General Manager of Sinopharm Holding Guoda Pharmacy Co., Ltd., attended the event to jointly launch the strategic partnership aimed at promoting the health of Chinese consumers.
This collaboration focuses on nutritional supplementation for middle-aged and older adults, as well as the prevention and control of major chronic diseases that threaten the health of Chinese residents. As China enters an aging society, the health of the middle-aged and elderly population, particularly concerning chronic diseases, has garnered wider attention. Currently, there are over 300 million patients with chronic diseases in China. Previous chronic disease management efforts primarily focused on medication for chronic conditions. This collaboration marks the first time that chronic disease prevention and control have been expanded to include the promotion of healthy lifestyles and the role of dietary nutrition in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, thereby placing greater emphasis on improving the quality of life for patients with chronic diseases.
In the realm of health education, the Chinese Nutrition Society, a national first-class academic organization in the field of nutritional science in China, released the "Scientific Consensus on Nutrient Supplements for Chinese Residents." Professor Sun Guiju from the School of Public Health at Southeast University, specializing in nutrition and food hygiene, shared insights on the significant role of vitamin, mineral, and other nutrient supplementation in promoting overall public health and preventing and managing chronic diseases among middle-aged and elderly populations. Research has shown that after the age of 50, the incidence of chronic diseases rises sharply, with significantly increased nutritional risks among middle-aged and elderly individuals. Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer have gradually become the three major chronic conditions threatening the health of this demographic. Among patients with these chronic diseases, varying degrees of vitamin and mineral deficiencies are commonly observed.
Furthermore, studies have found that some common medications for chronic diseases can also lead to the loss of nutrients. Since it is difficult for daily diets to meet the body's nutrient requirements, combined supplementation with multiple vitamins and minerals is particularly important for the health of middle-aged and elderly individuals. Benefit one: It helps in the prevention and adjunctive treatment of chronic diseases; Benefit two: In addition to vitamin supplementation, strengthening the intake of key minerals such as chromium, magnesium, zinc, and potassium further aids in improving chronic conditions; Benefit three: It can reduce the adverse effects of chronic disease medications on the body, contributing to the adjunctive treatment of chronic diseases.
In terms of channel implementation, Guoda Pharmacy, the leader of modern pharmacy chains, will fully leverage its channel advantages to contribute to national health. Mr. Zhao Xiaochuan, General Manager of Sinopharm Holding Guoda Pharmacy Co., Ltd., revealed that Guoda has over 20 million members, more than 4,000 stores covering over 70 cities, and sales exceeding RMB 10 billion, maintaining its top position in China’s pharmaceutical retail industry for five consecutive years. Song Qiang, Head of Commercial Procurement at Guoda Pharmacy and General Manager of Beijing Guoda, stated that Guoda will continue to uphold its “medical-pharmacy-care” chronic disease management service system and promote the concept of dietary nutritional supplements to more consumers.
Ms. Gu Haiying, General Manager of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare China, stated in her speech that this collaboration focuses on the major chronic diseases threatening the health of Chinese residents. This is not only because it aligns with the core competencies of Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and Sinopharm Holding Guoda Pharmacy Co., Ltd., but also to actively respond to the health needs of the Chinese people. Together, we are committed to chronic disease prevention and education for consumers, particularly the middle-aged and elderly population, bringing high-quality, safe, and professional nutritional health products to more consumers to safeguard their health.
Through this tripartite collaboration among the Chinese Nutrition Society, Pfizer’s Health Drugs Division, and Sinopharm Holding Guoda Pharmacy Co., Ltd., we aim to make a modest contribution toward enhancing public health awareness and advancing the Healthy China national development plan, thereby extending the benefits of the Healthy China strategy to a broader population.