Business Health
BARAKA earns US $ one million per year
Hathoon SHERIFFDEEN
“BARAKA products earn over US $ one million worth of foreign exchange
per year for Sri Lanka. There is a massive demand for herbal and natural
products globally, though we the marketing is sluggish in our side. We
expect this will increase in future,” CEO, Bio Extracts (Pvt) Ltd, Riza
Bahardeen said.
He said, “Our value addition is more than hundred per cent for the
seeds imported to manufacture BARAKA products. Black seeds are the vital
and only raw material, imported to manufacture BARAKA products in Sri
Lanka,”
BARAKA production line |
“Some of our products ranged in BARAKA brand products are now
registered in Australia, Malaysia, European Union, and South Africa.
This gives a prestige to Sri Lanka, since the medicines are rarely
registered under another country’s legislation. BARAKA products have
obtained the approval from the formulation committee of Ayurvedic
medicine, Department of Ayurveda,” he said.
“We are mainly an export oriented company, using the local herbs for
our production except black seeds.
The raw materials used in our production are Gotukola, Karawila,
Ekaveria, Karapincha, Cinnamon, Cardamom, Cloves and Citronella along
with Black seeds to manufacture the total range of BARAKA products,”
Bahardeen said.
CEO Riza Bahardeen |
“We subject BARAKA products to toxicity tests, pharmacological
studies and clinical trials before they are released to the market. The
result of these researches has been published locally and
internationally.
At present, there is a massive demand for herbal and natural medical
and cosmetic products. The EU, USA, Middle-East and Asian markets demand
these products on a huge way,” he said.
“BARAKA brands cater to high blood sugar, high cholesterol and
hypertension, the range of oils, capsules, balms and creams, is reformed
to suit the commercial demand for the ayurvedic medicine.
Now the western medical officers also encourage consuming herbal
products, due to lack of side effects,” he further stated.
Sun Pharmaceuticals launches “Pantoprazole SDR Tab”
Drug Major Sun Pharmaceuticals has announced the commercial launch of
generic Pantoprazole Sodium Delayed Release (DR) Tablets, 40 mg in the
market. The drug is used for treating oesophagus ailments.
Sun Pharmaceuticals has launched the drug after the commercial launch
by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries and Wyeth’s generic Pantoprazole
Sodium tablets product.
This strength of Pantoprazole Sodium has annual sales of around 2.3
billion dollar in the US. The product is being sold by its marketing
partner Caraco Pharmaceutical Laboratories.
The company had received a USFDA approval for these tablets in Sep
2007.
For the quarter to Dec 31, 2007, the company posted a net profit of
Rs. 318.4 crore, compared with Rs. 199 crore for same period,
corresponding year. During the same period, its net sales were up at Rs
803.9 crore versus Rs 540 crore.
The shares of the company reacted positively to the news and surged
9% to Rs. 1155 on the BSE, at the close of Wednesday’s trading. Stock
Markets closed with huge loss on Wednesday as selling pressure continued
in Blue-chip stocks.
Asia’s medical hub no second to Europe
Rosanne Koelmeyer ANDERSON
Today, with Singapore, Asia’s medical hub, accounting for one-third
of all JCI accredited facilities in Asia, Asians no longer have to seek
greener pastures for healthcare services nor spend inexhaustible sums of
money and time travelling to Europe.
KK Womens’ and Childrens’ Hospital, Singapore |
A proven, reliable healthcare services hub; Singapore’s expertise is
attracting a growing number of international patients, healthcare
workers and related companies to headquarter, train and share their
expertise, opening new vistas in the field of medical excellence in
Asia.
Observations on the Singapore Public Health Services were hospital
tours organised by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) in collaboration
with Singapore Health Services(SingHealth) focused on the hallmark of
excellence in healthcare services, the levels of competence, quality,
safety and reliability the country had to offer to Asia as a whole.
‘Today, we see an increasing flow of patients crossing boarders in
search of better healthcare providers. The inexorable progress brings
with it tremendous benefits as well as challenges, and perhaps even the
need for some changes. While some call this medical tourism, I prefer
the term ‘Medical travel ‘in order that this be put in proper
perspective and not to be equated to just another ‘service industry’.
I would like to look at it from the view of ‘Medicine without
Boarders’- Care before Business were the sentiments of Group CEO,
Singapore Health Services (SGH), Prof. Tan Ser Kiat.
Director, Healthcare Services, Singapore Tourism Board, Dr. Jason C.H.
Yap said in 2006 approximately 410,000 visitors out of the 9.7 million
visitors to Singapore declared that their primary reason for coming to
Singapore was for healthcare.
They brought about 86,000 accompanying persons, parents, caregivers,
family members or friends. Singapore’s healthcare services are
excellent.
Many South East Asian, Asian and world Firsts were developed and
performed in Singapore. Singapore is geared to meet Asia’s Medical
needs.’
Meanwhile, medical travel is more a part of the healthcare industry
than the tourist industry.
The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has the expertise to facilitate the
inbound travel of patients and therefore takes charge of international
branding and marketing and the development of associated people-oriented
services like local Transport, accommodation and international patient
liaison services. Singapore was voted the best Medical Travel
Destination by Travel Weekly in 2007, an acknowledgement of STB’s work
in international marketing.
The STB also encourages medical conferences in Singapore. The
International Congress and Convention Association has ranked Singapore
as the convention city in Asia and the second in the world for many
years and more than a third of events held in Singapore are
healthcare-related.
CIBA vision products here
Hiran SENEWIRATNE
CIBA vision, a world-leader in contact lenses and lens care products,
has launched a select range of its contact lenses and lens care products
to the Sri Lankan market, through their agents A. Baur and Company.
CIBA vision products, the world’s best selling cosmetic contact
lenses with a range of products to suit the needs of different people,
will be available in Sri Lanka, Professional Affairs Manager CIBA Vision
- Singapore Adeline Chew said.
She said today’s women are forward in fashions and looking for fun
and are ready to try new ways to express themselves.
CIBA Vision product range namely Freshlook, Dailies and Solo Care
Focus, will be able to satisfy any market and fashion demand. According
to Chew, their lenses are non-medicated medical cosmetic devices.
They have obtained patent rights for these eye - care products.
CIBA vision is the eye-care unit of Novatis AG, a world leader in
health protection, disease curing and improving well-being, that
operates in over 140 countries in the world. A Baur and company are the
local distributor for their products.
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