Hoffmann-La Roche launches 'Roche communicate' program to raise awareness of various diseases

The in-depth meetings are targeted at select members of the press and cover a different disease topic every time such as breast cancer and the subject of today's session: hematological malignancies.

The first session of 'Roche Communicate' focused on haematological malignancies specifically Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma and changing faces of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia management.

Professor Ali Bazarbachi and Professor Ahmad Ibrahim- specialists in Hematology and Oncology -- focused on the treatments that have achieved the highest survival rates in the last 30 years for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma patients and updated members of the press on the latest EU approval of a new standard of care for patients with previously-untreated chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia.

Dr. Ziad Nassour- Vice President of the International Conference of Francophone Order of Pharmacists (CIOPF)- closed the session with the latest update in combating the counterfeit medicine campaign.

Ammar Lutfi, LEVANT Area Manager for Hoffmann-La Roche highlighted the role journalists have in mediating the sharing of vital information and said:

"The pen and voice of journalists are a tool that can create a health-aware community. Our role is to provide the best specialists with a means to educate local media about various diseases in addition to informing them about the latest scientific research and respective breakthroughs in order to ensure that the people at large are well-informed about important updates in the medical world."

He went on to explain that 'Roche Communicate' is part of Hoffman-La Roche commitment towards improving public education through the media and added: "Our program enables reporters to remain fully informed about the latest developments in the medical field specifically in life-threatening disease areas such as Lymphoma and we intend to inspire them to seek a better understanding about these diseases that affect millions of people worldwide - we strongly believe that by creating awareness and in turn early diagnosis; we can improve survival rates of patients and their quality of life and may reach cure in certain cases."