Bitter Pills:Medicines & The Third World Poor | Page 213

Chapter 2
In Tanzania
An estimated 130,000 leprosy cases not treated.
An estimated 36,000 TB cases untreated.
Hookworm affects up to 5 million. (Source: Dr Tony Klouda "Prevention is more
expensive than cure, a Review of Health Problems for Tanzania 1971 -1981," February
1982. (mimeo)
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Consumption by sales value from M. P. Tifienbacher, director Fabwerke- Hoechst, Table
l(i) and (iii) supplementary to paper published in the Proceedings of the US Institute of Medicine
(National Academy of Sciences) Conference, Pharmaceuticals for Developing Countries,
Washington, January 1979. Figures for the world pharmaceutical market in 1976
(manufacturers' price) The 19 industrialized: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, France, W. Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway,
South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and USA. The low income countries: Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Burundi, Burma, Kampuchea, Central African Empire, Chad,
Ethiopia, Guinea, Haiti, India, Kenya, Lao PDR, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali,
Mozambique, Nepal, Niger, Pakistan, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania,
Uganda, Upper Volta, Vietnam, Yemen Arab Republic, Zaire.

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Dr. V. Fattorusso, "Essential Drugs for the Third World", World Health, May 1981, p.3.
Average drug consumption per head is considerably higher in some newly industrializing
countries, particularly in Latin America: eg. Brazil $12 and Mexico $11.6 (1976) (UNIDO,
op.cit., p. 116). In Britain drug consumption per head in 1979 was $76 (retail prices) (SCRIP,
World Pharmaceutical Newsletter, No. 621, p.4) and £19.55 (manufacturers' prices) for total
UK market of £1,056 million (Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry - ABPI). But
Britain ranks low amongst other developed countries, as W. Germany Japan, France, Sweden,
Switzerland, USA and others have significantly higher average drug consumption. (UNIDO,
1980, op.cit., p.117.)

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WHO, "National Policies and Practices in regard to Medicinal Products: and Related
International Problems", Background Document A3 I/Technical Discussions/I, 6 March
1978, p.9 "... in economic terms the developed countries account for more than 80%
of the world pharmaceutical consumption and the developing countries for less than 20%.''
UNIDO, Global Study ofthe Pharmaceutical Industry (ID/WG.331/6)22October 1980,
p.29, gives developing country consumption in 1978 as 17.55%. Pharmaceutical
consumption in China equals 5.2% of total market (Tables 15-18).
David Taylor, Medicines, Heal th and the Poor World, Office of Health Economics,
London 1982, p.30. World medicine consumption 1980 manufacturers' prices) was $76,000
million and 20% of sales were in developing countries.

UNIDO, 1980, op.cit., p. 14.
Bangladesh Government report to WHO, "Drug Policy and Management in Bangladesh"
(Country Information Paper), for Inter-Country Consultative Meeting on Drug Policies
and Management, 13-16 October 1980, New Delhi, (WHO/SEA/DPM/Conslt. meeting
1II). Drug market for 1979 US $70 million - (at trade prices). "The per capita consumption
of drugs (allopathies) is about US $0.82, with a coverage of not more than 28% of the
people."

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See Chapter 9, "National and International Solutions".

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Klouda, op. cit., p.12.

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Bangladesh Government health budget 1978/9. Taka 350 million (£9.72 million) (£1/36 Taka).
British NHS spending 1978/9 £8,850 million. NHS spending 1981II £11,000 million, of which
£1,000 million on drugs (DHSS Press Office).

World Bank, Country Study Yemen Arab Republic, Development of a Traditional
Economy, Washington DC, January 1979. Table 5:3, "Government Expenditures",
1967/7, p.245.
Bangladesh Health Profile 1977, op.cit., Table 5.2, "Central Government Current
Expenditure".

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