Breakthrough in New Zealand

Ultrasis plc

Ultrasis announces major breakthrough for

Beating the Blues in New Zealand

Ultrasis plc is pleased to announce that its Computerised Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program "Beating the Blues" has been selected for a National E-Therapy Service in New Zealand, funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Health.

The use of "Beating the Blues" was proposed by a consortium led by New Zealand's leading health technology company Medtech Global Ltd, in response to a national tender. The three-year contract, which has a total value of NZ$2.1 million (Ultrasis' share being NZ$1m), will see "Beating the Blues" made available to all GPs in New Zealand through Medtech's revolutionary "Manage My Health" patient centric eHealth technology system.

Nigel Brabbins, Ultrasis' CEO, said: "Once again, the exceptional evidence base, ease of use, superior administration system and patient data safety aspects of "Beating the Blues" have resulted in a major contract win. This demonstrates that the program remains the product of choice in leading healthcare systems looking for affordable treatment solutions. We are delighted to have made this significant breakthrough in New Zealand."

Vino Ramayah, Executive Chairman and CEO at Medtech, said: "Medtech is delighted to be working in partnership with Ultrasis to make Beating the Blues universally available in New Zealand. We look forward to building on this contract win and opening up new markets with Ultrasis in Australia, India and Asia."

John Smith, Executive Director at Ultrasis, said: "Medtech are already the preferred solution provider to over 85% of New Zealand's GP's and this, along with their proven 26-year track record of delivering health technology solutions to the New Zealand primary health sector, makes for an ideal partnership. We believe this is a model that is replicable in other GP-led healthcare systems, as it provides an immediate, evidence-based solution for mild and moderate depression to both the GP and the patient."

Sanjeewa Samaraweera, Chief Operating Officer at Medtech, said: "The combination of "Manage My Health" with the most evidence based computerised CBT program available globally, "Beating the Blues", has created an unbeatable offering and means that GPs will be able to prescribe Beating the Blues to their patients whilst they are in the clinic and it be ready for them to access immediately they get home."

Other partners in the successful consortia bid were: the New Zealand Guidelines Group and New Zealand based CBT Therapy provider, Opening Doors.

Ends

Ultrasis - Ultrasis plc is a healthcare company with core expertise in health, psychology, software development and programme management. The company delivers computerised healthcare products to the NHS, the corporate sector and other healthcare providers in the UK and internationally. 

Beating the Blues was developed in conjunction with A/Professor Judy Proudfoot and her team at the Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, and is an eight-week, web-based treatment programme for mild and moderate depression based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. Following a rigorous examination by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), "Beating the Blues" was approved by NICE in February 2006 for use in the National Health Service. 

Ultrasis was the first company to offer computerised products based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and interactive multimedia, and is the world leader in this field. The products help people tackle stress, anxiety and depression, and a full spectrum of related chronic conditions. 

www.ultrasis.com 

www.beatingtheblues.co.uk

Medtech Global Limited - Medtech Limited is the leading and preferred solutions provider of patient management and eHealth solutions to New Zealand General Practices with over 85% using Medtech solutions.

Medtech is also the second largest solutions provider to GP's in Australia and Medtech products are also used in several other countries including Ireland, India, Singapore, Brunei, United States and the Pacific Islands.

www.medtechglobal.com

Opening Doors - Opening Doors are a New Zealand based provider of psychological therapies and have been working with Ultrasis for over 2 years to develop the evidence base of Beating the Blues within the local health care setting.

www.opening-doors.co.nz 

New Zealand Guidelines Group - The NZGG is an independent, not-for-profit organisation set up to promote effective delivery of health and disability services, based on evidence. NZGG works with a broad-based collaborative network of clinical leaders, opinion leaders and consumers, designing tools to promote an evidence-based culture within the New Zealand health and disability sector. These tools include evidence-based guidelines, the circulation of the latest evidence-based news from New Zealand and overseas, and training.

www.nzgg.org.nz 

Contact:

Nigel Brabbins CEO E-Mail: [email protected] Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7535 2050

Geoff Nash FinnCap Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7600 1658

John Webb Marshall Securities Joint Broker Telephone: +44 (0) 207 490 3788

Karen White/Sarah Rice

JBP Public Relations

E-Mail: [email protected]; [email protected]

Telephone +44 (0) 117 907 3400