Media Release

Basel, 12 December 2003

Roche broadens sponsorship of medical care project in South Africa
Scope of patient care by the Phelophepa Health Care Train to be extended

During a ceremony in New York, USA, Roche announced in the presence of the South African Minister of Public Works, Jeff Radebe, and her Excellency, the ambassador of South Africa to the United States, Barbara Masakela, that Roche’s long-term support of the Transnet - Phelophepa Health Care Train, will be significantly increased. The Phelophepa Health Care Train started 1994 as the first and the only primary health care train in the world, operating as a health and educational facilitator reaching thousands of rural communities in South Africa.
Emerging from just three cars in 1994 to the 600-ton, 16-car train that it is today, complete with medical, dental, and counseling clinics, the Health Care train of South Africa has seen a healthy growth – just as the near half million South African children it has served, have undoubtedly experienced. Phelophepa is a combination of Sotho and Venda words meaning “good, clean health”.

The incremental sponsorship will be used to extend services offered on the train: new clinics for diabetes care and oncology as well as the extension of the School Health Services will be a reality soon. Further, the additional funds will be used for the maintenance of the train and communication infrastructure. By these measures the team on the train will also be able to increase their ‘Outreach Educational Programs’ and to create jobs for local communities.

Franz B. Humer, CEO and Chairman of Roche comments: “As one of the Phelophepa supporters since its early days we could see the rapidly growing role of this clinic on tracks in providing care to people in need. We at Roche are always looking for innovative solutions for unmet medical needs and in its own way that’s what Phelophepha is doing. Therefore, I am very pleased to announce that Roche will significantly increase its support to Phelophepa as its main external sponsor.

This project reflects, in several ways, Roche’s mission and philosophy – that we focus on the discovery and development of new and better treatments, and at the same time, look for innovative ways, such as Phelophepa, to provide health care for people in areas where access is limited. Projects like the Phelophepa train represent an innovative approach to healthcare and one that highlights the value of partnerships. Bringing together several groups such as business, government and local communities, enables us to more effectively address this particular health care challenge, which might be too complex for any one group. The Health Care Train is a great example of how people with a pragmatic but creative mind can successfully address the challenge head on.”

Jeff Radebe, the Minister of Public Works, commented that the South African government was grateful to worldwide organizations, such as Roche, that supported the Phelophepa Health Care Train. “It is a miracle train, not just because it makes health care available to rural South Africans, but because it represents what is possible when government and the private sector work together. We are pleased to have Roche as a partner in the Phelophepa train and in the objective of creating a better life for all. The inclusion of diabetes and oncology care will cover urgent and growing needs. Extending the ‘Educational Outreach Program’ will enable the communities to avoid a number of diseases – that is of utmost importance! ”

The Phelophepa Health Care Train has touched the lives of about a million people in rural South Africa – including women and children who do not have access to the most basic health care. Since its inception in 1994, the Phelophepa’s staff and volunteers have screened and educated more than 560,000 individuals through the school screening, health education and counseling workshop programs and treated more than 400,000 patients overall in it’s various clinics.

The train has traveled more than 80,000 miles since its inception, and en route, it has utilized and supported local clinics, hospitals, social workers and doctors – sometimes village healers – to reach out to the local communities. Phelophepa has also trained nearly 6,000 South African volunteers in its 5-day health programs since 1995. Also since 1995, traveling on the Phelophepa, an additional 6,200 student volunteers hailing from various institutions around the world have worked hands-on in these communities with the 15 full-time staff members to provide much-needed fundamental health services (such as dental and eye care) and health education (such as AIDS awareness). The train travels to villages of South Africa for 36 weeks each year.

The 9-year-old Phelophepa was started on an initial capital investment from Transnet, Africa’s largest transportation company, and continues to operate with the support of local and international donors. Roche has contributed to the Phelophepa since 1994 and is its main external corporate sponsor. To honor Roche’s ongoing commitment, the car housing the health clinic was officially renamed the Roche Health Clinic. Roche has full responsibility for this clinic, handling its maintenance, sponsoring salaries for two nurses, maintaining the clinic’s equipment and providing training materials. Based on the extended sponsorship by Roche Phelophepa will include a dispensary, a diabetes clinic and an oncology clinic. Diabetes and cancer are growing challenges in South Africa and service on these diseases is urgently required.

About Phelophepa
The Phelophepa has been described by its beneficiaries as “A Train of Hope” and “A Miracle Train,” bearing testimony to the dire need for basic health care in South Africa. Additional information about the Phelophepa Health Care Train is available on its Website.
- Pictures of the Phelophepa train

Corporate Philanthropy at Roche
The Phelophepa is also a good example of corporate philanthropy and social involvement at Roche. As we are operating in countries around the world, we are working every day to enhance the quality of people’s lives through supporting community projects, charitable contributions and a raft of collaborations and partnerships with non-profit organizations. Good corporate citizenship at Roche is a multifaceted process of commitment and action in areas ranging from humanitarian aid, health promotion and education to environmental stewardship. Roche’s contributions range from it’s very flexible price and patent policies to a number of social sponsorship programs the company supports. Details may be found on the Internet.

About Roche
Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Roche is one of the world’s leading innovation-driven healthcare groups. Its core businesses are pharmaceuticals and diagnostics. Roche is number one in the global diagnostics market, the leading supplier of pharmaceuticals for cancer and a leader in virology and transplantation. As a supplier of products and services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease, the Group contributes on a broad range of fronts to improving people’s health and quality of life. Roche employs roughly 65,000 people in 150 countries. The Group has alliances and R&D agreements with numerous partners, including majority ownership interests in Genentech and Chugai.