Bitter Pills:Medicines & The Third World Poor | Page 221
FISONS: Mr. Mohammad NurulAlam, Marketing Manager of Fisons (Bangladesh) Ltd. was
also most helpful when we talked to him on 26 September 1980. Our letter to the Divisional
Chairman of Fisons UK Pharmaceuticals Division of 18 January 1982 unfortunately did not
reach Fisons, a copy was sent on 24 March which cut down the time for them to contact their
subsidiary. Fisons Deputy Chairman wrote on 27 April 1982 to say: "Naturally I am very
concerned about your criticisms, implied or otherwise, relating to the activities of Fisons
(Bangladesh) and consequently you will appreciate that I find it necessary to investigate your
' ' f a c t s ' ' thoroughly before responding on relevant matters due course." We had no further
comments by time of going to press.
74
Expert Committee report, 11 May 1982, op. cit. Of the 1742 locally manufactured products
recommended for withdrawal only 174 are produced by the 8 foreign-controlled manufacturers.
75
Ibid., p.9. Verdivitone is referred to as "multivatimin combination with alcohol and
glycerophosphate. A highly misused habit-forming drug which is dangerous in hepatic malaisis.
Chronic wastage of country's resources... " ( p . 10) Squibb of Bangladesh point out: "Verdivitone
is purchased mainly by the more affluent sector of the community and at 11% per volume,
has a lower alcohol content than other vitamin tonics made here. Alcohol is used to preserve
the B complex vitamins which would otherwise degrade quickly... " . They also cite "the large
rural industry producing cheap (and dangerous)alcohol from palm, sugar and rice." (R. Bower,
Managing Director, personal communication, 3 May 1982.)
76
Dr. C O . Roepnackand Dr. R. W.Timmers, Hoechst Head Office, personal communication,
22 March 1982.
77
F. K. Ghuznavi, Chairman IC1 Bangladesh Manufacturers Ltd., in interview with the author,
1 October 1980.
78
Dr. Martin Schweiger, "In Sickness or in Wealth," B.B.C. Radio 4 transcript of tape No.
TLN34/230P849, transmitted 26 August 1979, p. 15.
79
Mohammed Nurul Alam, Marketing Manager, Fisons (Bangladesh) Ltd., personal
communication, 19 February 1981.
80
IFPMA Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices, March 1981, op.cit.
81
Dr. Halfdan Mahler, "The meaning of ' health for all by the year 2000 ' ", World Health
Forum, vol. 2 No. 1, 1981, p.18.
82
ICSSR/ICMR, 1981, op.cit.
83
Veena Shatrughna, "Drug prescription: Service to whom?", Medico Friend Circle Bulletin,
India, 1978, quoted by Brudon, 1981.
84
Ibid.
85
Dr. E. Snell and Mr. Lee (APBI) in interview with the author, 25 March 1981.
86
Dr. H.K.A. Hye, ex-Director Drug Administration-Ministry of Health, Bangladesh, personal
communication, 7 May 1981.
87
"Merck in Bangladesh, Marketing Plan 1980(-1982)", op. cit. The marketing claims made
for Neurobion are discussed in more detail in Chapter 5.
88
Ibid., pp. 3,6, 11.
89
Dr. Hye, personal communication, 10 August 1981.
90
Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Directorate of Drugs Administration,
"Import Figures of Finished Drugs for the Calendar Year 1980."
91
E. Merck have argued that: "The import of our products to Bangladesh does not cost the
country a penny in foreign exchange. As long as the country has been in existence, we have
been closely cooperating with the Government in the conclusion of barter agreements, under
which Merck supplies laboratory chemicals, reagents, diagnostics, industrial chemicals and
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