For example, Linde in England leads or supports a number of research programmes, clinical trials and patient care opportunities. Over the past few years, for example, we sponsored studies on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
BOC is currently involved in a major study being conducted on bronchitis, a type of lung infection, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.
In conjunction with the British Thoracic Society and other partners, we also founded the COPD consortium.
Our support for the medical community is further demonstrated by our long-term sponsorship of the BOC Chair of Anaesthesia at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge. Last but not least, we regularly run clinical seminars on the use of medical gases for pain relief and respiratory problems.
In South America, Linde is a key supplier of medical gases and supporting hardware. In this region, we are involved in medical congresses and help sponsor other events like the national congress for anaesthesiology and the neonatal congress in Brazil.
In Venezuela, we supported a respiratory congress. On the homecare side, we offer price reductions, and free support in some cases, for respiratory patients facing hardship in Ecuador and other countries. In Argentina, we supply limited quantities of our medical gases free of charge to the society of anaesthesiology for training.
We are involved in the childhood cancer foundation KRTEK in the Czech Republic. Founded in 1999, this charitable organisation raises funds and supports public awareness campaigns regarding the issues facing children suffering from cancer.
These funds support the work of the Paediatric Oncology Department at the University Hospital Brno, dedicated to research for comprehensive cures for infants, children, teens and young adults with cancer.
In Poland, we support the BOLD project (Burden of Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease). Under the umbrella of BOLD, around 2,000 patients with chronic obstructive lung disease were examined in southern Poland. We were also involved in tests to treat newborns suffering from respiratory problems with inhaled nitric oxide (NO2).
At the request of medical specialists from various hospitals, we supplied our INOmax® product for this purpose. And we have been working with the Krakow medical emergency centre since 2004. This involves supporting their annual competition open to national and international emergency teams through funding, organisational aid and medical talks.
