[e-drug] RFI free drugs for patients (cont'd)

[valeria.frighi@doctors.org.uk]

E-drug: RFI free drugs for patients (cont'd)
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Dear e-druggers,

this is a reply to Dr  Saeed Farooq (in relation to the part of his
request relating to diabetes) which I am sending to the group as 
diabetes is a growing public health problem, especially in developing 
countries, and because I know some of you are interested in this 
particular disease.

An excellent organization to contact is the World Diabetes Foundation 
which was set up by Novo-Nordisk (one of the two main world insulin 
manufactures- as well as of a few oral hypoglycaemic agents) and is 
in partnership with non profit organizations.  In India for instance, 
they are providing most of the funding for the hospital of  the WHO 
Collaborating Centre for Research, Education and Training in 
Diabetes. They are also
substantially funding another hospital, which is part of the same
programme. The director of the WHO Centre is Dr A Ramachandran, a 
leading Indian diabetologist and somebody really worth contacting for 
his own clinical and research work.

Novo-Nordisk via the World Diabetes Foundation, is also  very active 
in many other developing countries and I am almost sure they also 
provide insulin for free when needed.

Obviously one could see all this "benevolent activity" as part of the 
fight against  Ely-Lilly, the other diabetes drug giant, in order to 
access the huge market of developing countries where diabetes is 
growing much faster than in Western countries.On the other hand, I 
personally would like to give Novo-Nordisk the benefit of the doubt. 
Maybe they are finding a way to keep their shareholders happy without 
exploiting unfortunate people, which
might be possible when sound financial management is coupled with 
some good principles. But only time will tell how this company 
behaves.

I hope this helps,

Valeria
Dr Valeria Frighi
Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Churchill Hospital
Oxford
OX3 7LJ
UK
valeria.frighi@doctors.org.uk
Tel  # 44 1865 857300
Fax # 44 1865 857311

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