Health

Pettah Pharma introduces Duron Tadalafil tablets

Sri Lanka imports 96 percent of its pharmaceutical product consumption:

Hathoon Sheriffdeen

Sri Lanka produces only six percent of its total pharmaceutical needs of the country. Out of this four per cent are un-prescribed medicines like paracetamal and asprine, Managing Director, Pettah Pharmaceuticals Ltd, P. Pathmarajah said at the launching ceremony of Duron Tadalafil 10/20mg tablets.

He said Sri Lanka imports ninety six per cent of its total pharmaceutical consumption. Eighty per cent of the pharmaceutical imports are from India and the second leading country is Bangladesh.

The total turnover earned by the Pettah Pharmaceuticals is Rs 300 million per year. We distribute 36 medicines to the Sri Lankan market, Pathmarajah said.

Duron Tadalafil is an Indian generic introduced to local market two weeks before. It ensures the quality erection to all type of patients. Lack of quality erection has been an on-building disorder today. Erection is a popular disorder within IT professionals in India. This is due to their professional conduct adopted in their day today life.

This has been a serious issue in Asian countries, and their socio-cultural life is disturbed. The family setups are disturbed and personalities are distorted in various ways, General Manager-International Business, Macleods, V. Anand said.

He also said, the reason for Macleods to choose the Sri Lankan market is because, the total turnover for the similar generics is Rs 40 Million per month. Mostly in global market 50 to 70 age group of people consume these generics highly. Research showe that the 50 per cent of 50 to 70 year olds are suffering from erection disorders.

Anand said, Duron is a prescribed medicine to the age group of 25 to 70 years. As per research Duron reduces stress and its allowed for that those in need. "Diabeties can be a major disorder leads to erectional disstruction. This up lifts many physio-psychological issues within men," he said.

"This is the similar generic used for the effect of Viagra.

Viagra is prohibited to use after alcohol and several foods and some diseases do not accept viogra. Duron is not like that," he said.

Duron Tadalafil gives faster outset of action, which is fifteen minutes. Anand said.

Mid East can capitalise on lucrative global medical tourism market

With rising healthcare costs and increasing procedure waiting times in Europe, America and Asia, the Middle East is in prime position to establish itself as a world-class, cost-effective alternative destination for the booming medical tourism market, says a leading industry expert.

To achieve a global reputation of medical excellence and affordability, Jonathan Edelheit, President of the Medical Tourism Association, believes the region must continue to foster an environment that is increasingly favourable for the healthcare sector's private operators.

"It is important for Middle East governments to continue creating an increased role for the private healthcare sector as it has the skill set and resources to help build more hospitals, implement high levels of quality care and establish infrastructure much faster than the public sector.

This is a key factor is establishing the region as a sought after destination for medical tourists," said Edelheit. According to Edelheit - who is part of the seminar speaker line-up for Reed Travel Exhibitions' Arabian Travel Market 2008, the Middle East's premier travel and tourism event - the global medical tourism industry could grow up to ten fold over the next two years, representing a dynamic business opportunity for the Middle East.

With regional governments actively increasing their efforts to woo high-end medical providers, such as Abu Dhabi's association with the Cleveland Clinic and John Hopkins Medicine and Dubai aligning with Harvard Medical International, Edelheit believes the region is making important strides in raising its medical operating standards to international levels.

"Medical tourism is growing exponentially every year especially with more and more patients travelling overseas for urgent and cosmetic care. I believe the key issues going forward will be whether the Middle East can market itself successfully to an international audience and, as a result, build a "brand" reputation for premium, affordable healthcare," said Edelheit.

"There is a growing trend of blue chip medical companies setting up regional operations. These partnerships are very important and help new hospitals and healthcare entities put the right processes in place prior to building the hospital, which helps ensure the highest quality of care possible and attracts overseas consultations."

Reckitt Benckiser launches the second stage of 'Dettol Protects'

In December 2007 Dettol launched a programme to promote good hygiene practices in the family environment and health institutions.

The programme was conducted under the approval of the Ministry of Health to rehabilitate the hospitals through medical camps. It covered the Welimada Base Hospital, Keppitipola Maha Vidyalaya, Girambe Maha Vidyalaya, District Hospital, Uva Paranagama, Childrens Center Karandagala, Garment Factory Ambagasdane (Street promotion), Bus/Railway Station Bandarawela (Street promotion).

The programme was carried out in association with VFM. Dettol is now launching the second phase of the 'Dettol Protects' programme which will involve further rehabilitation of the children's hospitals and maternity wards.

Moreover, seminars promoting "Good Hygiene Practices" will be conducted in Lady Ridgeway, District Hospital Thalangama, De Soysa District Hospital Lunawa, Moratuwa and Piliyandala Hospitals.

During the programme mothers will be given a care booklet of good practices and free samples of Dettol products.

Managing Director Reckitt Benckiser Sri Lanka Nael Ahmed says " 'Dettol Protects' is not just an advertising tag line; it is also the gist of thinking and the efforts that go into developing new Dettol products and the parameters the brand continues to deliver on for decades.

In essence Dettol demonstrates commitment to the community not just through the quality of its products but also through vitally important initiatives such as these.

We are again proud to join hands with the Ministry of Health in this endeavour and are grateful for the encouragement and support provided by them."

Scrambling for Health Insurance Coverage

Health security for people in late middle age testimony before the senate special committee on aging

Jeanne Lambrew

Chairman Kohl, Senator Smith, and distinguished Members of the Committee, I thank you for the opportunity to testify on the topic of health security for people in late middle age. I also thank Senator Wyden for his interest in this topic, and my views on it, as well as the broader challenges facing our health system.

Often when designing policy, we focus on simple statistics such as where are the pockets of uninsured people and for whom can we get the biggest bang for the buck.

Yet if a goal is preventing and managing illness, attention must be paid to those with high risks and tenuous coverage.

People in their decade before Medicare eligibility are such a group. Moreover, the challenges this group faces in finding and affording health insurance shed light on the larger cracks in the system, the proverbial "canary in the coal mine." In this testimony, I will profile people ages 55 to 64, discuss the major health insurance options, and offer criteria for assessing them.

Demographics

As you know, the Baby Boom generation is large and approaching retirement. The first of the generation is expected to turn 65 in the year 2011. As you can see in Figure 1, Baby Boomers are now and in the near future moving through the 55 to 64 age bracket.

Between 2000 and 2010 alone, the number of Americans ages 55 to 64 will increase by nearly 12 million or 50 percent (from 24.4 million to 36.2 million). This proverbial elephant being swallowed by the snake has in the past, present, and future stretched the systems in place to meet age-specific needs.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Baby Boomers required a massive expansion of the education system. By 2030, there will be twice as many seniors relying on Social Security and Medicare. Today and in the near-term, the challenge is affordable health insurance.

Health Risks

Increased age is associated with increased health risk, although this relationship is not linear. Studies of older workers have found that those ages 55 to 64 are more experienced and less likely to be injured. However, the injuries that do occur tend to be more serious and recovery takes longer.

Centre for Amercian Progress