AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, June 30, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Wolters Kluwer (Pink Sheets:WTKWY), a leading multinational publisher and information services company, announced today that Ovid Technologies has reached a pioneering agreement with the BMJ Publishing Group. The pioneering agreement provides over 70,000 medical professionals in China with the latest clinical information. Ovid is part of Wolters Kluwer's Health Division.The agreement with the BMJ Publishing Group (PG) brings clinical information to 20 medical research institutions and hospitals in China. Access to the BMJ PG collection on Journals@Ovid provides the consortium with the ability to retrieve the latest medical research in full text, integrated with bibliographic databases that are fully searchable. The agreement between Ovid and the BMJ PG ensures that the BMJ Collection is provided at a special rate to the participating Chinese institutions. Additionally, the agreement will provide six medical institutions with access to Clinical Evidence, the pioneering compendium of evidence-based interventions. Eunice Walford, from the BMJ PG commented: "This is an exciting project for us and we are delighted at the popularity of our titles in China."
"This agreement is indicative of the flexibility and customization Ovid provides its customers and publishing partners. We are delighted to deliver information that will have a dramatic impact on the overall patient care offered by these Chinese institutions," said Terry MacManus, Director, Sales in Asia Pacific at Ovid.
The agreement provides over 70,000 researchers, faculty members and clinical staff with access to the full BMJ Catalogue, including the flagship British Medical Journal (BMJ), as well as highly cited journals such as Gut and Thorax. Furthermore, Ovid's archival access guarantees all subscribing institutions the right to access the content purchased during the subscription period in perpetuity. More universities are set to join the CALIS Medical consortium in 2004.
Ms. Yuan Yin, deputy director of the Peking University Health Science Library, also the key consortium organizer for CALIS Medical Centre, said, "Through the consortium, researchers from medical institutions over the nation are able, via the Ovid platform which they have been long familiar with, to easily retrieve critical medical content of BMJ journals. This definitely helps to improve their research and clinical care."
About Ovid Technologies and Wolters Kluwer Health Ovid Technologies, www.ovid.com, is an information solutions provider focused on offering the combination of content, tools, and services that makes research smarter, faster and more effective. Ovid energizes the thinking of researchers and clinicians by developing the individualized experience each customer needs. Ovid's information solutions are used by the world's leading colleges and universities; medical schools; academic research libraries and library consortia; hospitals and healthcare systems; pharmaceutical, engineering and biotechnology companies; HMOs and clinical practices. Ovid is an operating company of Wolters Kluwer Health.
Wolters Kluwer Health (www.wkhealth.com) is a global leader in information for health and medical professionals. As of 2003, Wolters Kluwer Health has annual revenues of EUR 663 million and employs approximately 2,350 people. The Division focuses on its four major customer segments: Clinical Tools, Medical Research, Pharma Solutions and Professional & Education.
About Wolters Kluwer
Wolters Kluwer (Euronext Amsterdam:WKL) is a leading multinational publisher and information services company. The Company's core markets are in the health, tax, accounting, corporate, financial services, legal and regulatory, and education sectors. As of 2003, Wolters Kluwer has annual revenues of EUR 3.4 billion, employs approximately 19,500 people worldwide, and maintains operations across Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Its depositary receipts are quoted on the Euronext Amsterdam (WKL) and are included in the AEX and Euronext 100 indices.
Media Caroline Wouters Vice President, Corporate Communications t + 31 (0)20 6070 459 press@wolterskluwer.com
Investors/Analysts Oya Yavuz Vice President, Investor Relations t + 31 (0)20 6070 407 ir@wolterskluwer.com
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