DKSH Business Unit Healthcare, the leading outsourcing services partner for healthcare companies in Asia, provides a wide range of commercial services to over 150 multinational pharmaceutical, medical devices, Over-The-Counter (OTC) and consumer health companies across Asia.

One of the cornerstones of the unique services capability mix of DKSH across all healthcare channels is its strong focus on quality and compliance. To sustain our excellent service levels, DKSH is extending the existing partnership with SGS for another three years. Under the agreement, SGS will validate and certify the 20 dedicated healthcare quality management systems in more than ten countries across Asia according to ISO 9001:2008, ISO 13485, Good Manufacturing (GMP) as well as Good Distribution Practice (GDP) standards.

The growing complexity of the healthcare value chain, the widely scattered healthcare outlets, as well as climate and infrastructural challenges in emerging markets across Asia, demand highest levels of quality and compliance from service providers. These certifications are global standards and proven indicators, and provide the assurance for high-quality and compliant services in the healthcare industry.

SGS has been certifying DKSH’s logistics and distribution infrastructure and capabilities for over ten years, including the ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 13485 certifications of all dedicated healthcare distribution centers across Asia. Most recent certifications obtained were the ISO 13485 in Singapore and Korea as well as GDP in Malaysia.

"We are very pleased that DKSH Healthcare is extending the close partnership with SGS across the region. DKSH has set the benchmark for quality and compliance in the Market Expansion Services industry in Asia and we look forward to further auditing and certifying their services," says François Marti, Executive Vice President for Systems & Services Certification, SGS.

Charles Toomey, Head Business Unit Healthcare, DKSH, adds: "Our close partnership with SGS enables us to stay ahead of the game by not only complying with global quality standards and requirements but also by strengthening our leadership position in quality and compliance in the healthcare services outsourcing industry across Asia. The extension of our partnership with SGS will support us in further enhancing the quality of our Market Expansion Services for all of our clients and customers.

About DKSH

DKSH is the leading Market Expansion Services Group with a focus on Asia. As the term "Market Expansion Services" suggests, DKSH helps other companies and brands to grow their business in new or existing markets.

Publicly listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since March 2012, DKSH is a global company headquartered in Zurich, with 650 business locations in 35 countries – 630 of them in Asia, and 26,000 specialized staff. In 2011, DKSH generated net sales of CHF 7.3 billion.

DKSH Business Unit Healthcare is the leading Market Expansion Services provider for healthcare companies seeking to grow their business in Asia, offering a wide range of solutions that extend from product feasibility studies and registration to importation, customs clearance, marketing and sales, to physical distribution, invoicing and cash collection. Products available through DKSH Healthcare include ethical pharmaceuticals, consumer health, over-the-counter (OTC), as well as medical devices.

With 150 business locations in 13 countries and over 8,000 specialized staff, Business Unit Healthcare serves over 160,000 customers and generated net sales of around CHF 2.9 billion in 2011.

Visit us at: www.dksh.com/healthcare

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 70,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,350 offices and laboratories around the world.

Visit us at: www.sgs.com