Qualcomm and Medical Platform Asia Provide 200 Wireless Home Blood Pressure Systems to Help Japanese Disaster Victims

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IWATE, Japan - June 11, 2012 - Qualcomm Incorporated, through its Wireless Reach™ initiative, working with Medical Platform Asia, today announced the provision of 200 sets of 3G-enabled home blood pressure management systems to patients living in disaster areas of Iwate Prefecture. These devices allow doctors to remotely monitor isolated patients living in temporary housing, provide them with timely treatment and prevent illnesses from becoming more serious.  

This project is part of a larger effort led by Iwate Medical University to provide medical care for Japan's earthquake and tsunami victims. Patients living in outlying areas face distinct challenges when it comes to seeing specialists or receiving daily home visits from a doctor or nurse. The chronic health problems these patients face are most often exacerbated by their living environment and stress related to the natural disaster.  Iwate Medical University is continuing efforts to provide disaster victims with stable medical care by building a new remote care system for affected areas, such as Otsuchi-cho and Rikuzentakata-shi.   

"We are fortunate to contribute to aid in the adoption and advancement of wireless medical and wellness services in the Japanese home market," said Masanori Nishiyama, M.D., Chairman of the Board of Directors at Medical Platform Asia. "This project will provide close monitoring of a patient's condition and, by utilizing 3G wireless technologies, a doctor can remotely provide feedback and make treatment recommendations on a regular basis."  

Research by Qualcomm's Wireless Reach and Medical Platform Asia reveals that previous deployments of the in-home monitoring technology increased patient awareness of the importance of blood pressure management by 50 percent and increased patients' proactive engagement in treatment by 30 percent. Advanced care for patients facing chronic disease is particularly lacking in rural regions of Japan and gaining access to health care facilities can prove difficult. In response, the Japanese government has taken measures to narrow the gap in availability of medical resources between urban and rural areas with information and communications technology (ICT). This collaboration is an example of how both academic institutions and private companies are exploring the use of ICT to improve medical care.  

"Qualcomm is proud to contribute assistance to victims of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake," said Clifford Ficke, vice president and president of Qualcomm Japan. "The ability to receive timely care outside of a hospital extends the reach of physicians and has the potential to greatly improve the quality of care for patients."

About Medical Platform Asia
Medical Platform Asia is a public corporation, funded by individual and corporate membership fees, which was established in December 2009 to promote human and material exchange between Japan and Asia in the medical field. Medical Platform Asia believes that the collaborative efforts of a large number of health care professionals in Asia, who stand on a single platform to promote the prevention and treatment of hypertension, diabetes, cancer and infectious diseases, would greatly contribute to achieving better health for the people in Asia. The 1st Asia Medical Forum was held in Tokyo in June 2010, with discussions taking place on the current state of health care and related issues in China, South Korea, Indonesia and Japan. For details, please visit the website: http://medpa.or.jp/

About Qualcomm and its Wireless Reach™ initiative
Qualcomm believes access to 3G and next-generation mobile technologies can improve people's lives. Qualcomm's Wireless Reach initiative is a strategic program that brings wireless technology to underserved communities globally. By working with partners, Wireless Reach invests in projects that foster entrepreneurship, aid in public safety, enhance the delivery of healthcare, enrich teaching and learning and improve environmental sustainability. For more information please visit www.qualcomm.com/wirelessreach. Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) is the world leader in 3G and next-generation mobile technologies. For more than 25 years, Qualcomm ideas and inventions have driven the evolution of digital communications, linking people everywhere more closely to information, entertainment and each other. For more information, visit Qualcomm's website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages.  ###    

Qualcomm is a registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Wireless Reach is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.