Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (C) addresses the
audience during a meeting of the annual Mercosur trade bloc presidential
summit in Mendoza June 29, 2012. (Credit: Reuters/Enrique Marcarian)

Chinese leader woos Latin America with deals

Chinese leader woos Latin America with deals
Chinese President Xi Jinping (4-L, first row) poses with leaders of the CELAC group of Latin American and Caribbean states, in Brasilia, on July 17, 2014 (AFP Photo/Nelson Almeida)
"A Summary" – Apr 2, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Religion, Shift of Human Consciousness, 2012, Intelligent/Benevolent Design, EU, South America, 5 Currencies, Water Cycle (Heat up, Mini Ice Ace, Oceans, Fish, Earthquakes ..), Middle East, Internet, Israel, Dictators, Palestine, US, Japan (Quake/Tsunami Disasters , People, Society ...), Nuclear Power Revealed, Hydro Power, Geothermal Power, Moon, Financial Institutes (Recession, Realign integrity values ..) , China, North Korea, Global Unity,..... etc.) -

“ … Here is another one. A change in what Human nature will allow for government. "Careful, Kryon, don't talk about politics. You'll get in trouble." I won't get in trouble. I'm going to tell you to watch for leadership that cares about you. "You mean politics is going to change?" It already has. It's beginning. Watch for it. You're going to see a total phase-out of old energy dictatorships eventually. The potential is that you're going to see that before 2013.

They're going to fall over, you know, because the energy of the population will not sustain an old energy leader ..."

"Update on Current Events" – Jul 23, 2011 (Kryon channelled by Lee Carroll) - (Subjects: The Humanization of God, Gaia, Shift of Human Consciousness, 2012, Benevolent Design, Financial Institutes (Recession, System to Change ...), Water Cycle (Heat up, Mini Ice Ace, Oceans, Fish, Earthquakes ..), Nuclear Power Revealed, Geothermal Power, Hydro Power, Drinking Water from Seawater, No need for Oil as Much, Middle East in Peace, Persia/Iran Uprising, Muhammad, Israel, DNA, Two Dictators to fall soon, Africa, China, (Old) Souls, Species to go, Whales to Humans, Global Unity,..... etc.)
(Subjects: Who/What is Kryon ?, Egypt Uprising, Iran/Persia Uprising, Peace in Middle East without Israel actively involved, Muhammad, "Conceptual" Youth Revolution, "Conceptual" Managed Business, Internet, Social Media, News Media, Google, Bankers, Global Unity,..... etc.)



Map of Latin America showing countries where major protests have occurred in recent months (AFP Photo)
.
A student holds a sign reading "Don't shoot, listen!!!" during a protest
on June 17, 2013 in Brasilia (AFP, Evaristo)

Paraguay police search S. American football HQ

Paraguay police search S. American football HQ
The Conmebol headquarters in Luque, Paraguay, is seen on January 7, 2016, during a raid within the framework of the FIFA corruption scandal (AFP Photo/Norberto Duarte)

'Panama Papers' law firm under the media's lenses

'Panama Papers' law firm under the media's lenses
The Panama Papers: key facts on the huge journalists' investigation into tax evasion (AFP Photo/Thomas Saint-Cricq, Philippe Mouche)

Mossack Fonseca

Mossack Fonseca

.

.
"The Recalibration of Awareness – Apr 20/21, 2012 (Kryon channeled by Lee Carroll) (Subjects: Old Energy, Recalibration Lectures, God / Creator, Religions/Spiritual systems (Catholic Church, Priests/Nun’s, Worship, John Paul Pope, Women in the Church otherwise church will go, Current Pope won’t do it), Middle East, Jews, Governments will change (Internet, Media, Democracies, Dictators, North Korea, Nations voted at once), Integrity (Businesses, Tobacco Companies, Bankers/ Financial Institutes, Pharmaceutical company to collapse), Illuminati (Started in Greece, with Shipping, Financial markets, Stock markets, Pharmaceutical money (fund to build Africa, to develop)), Shift of Human Consciousness, (Old) Souls, Women, Masters to/already come back, Global Unity.... etc.) - (Text version)

… The Shift in Human Nature

You're starting to see integrity change. Awareness recalibrates integrity, and the Human Being who would sit there and take advantage of another Human Being in an old energy would never do it in a new energy. The reason? It will become intuitive, so this is a shift in Human Nature as well, for in the past you have assumed that people take advantage of people first and integrity comes later. That's just ordinary Human nature.

In the past, Human nature expressed within governments worked like this: If you were stronger than the other one, you simply conquered them. If you were strong, it was an invitation to conquer. If you were weak, it was an invitation to be conquered. No one even thought about it. It was the way of things. The bigger you could have your armies, the better they would do when you sent them out to conquer. That's not how you think today. Did you notice?

Any country that thinks this way today will not survive, for humanity has discovered that the world goes far better by putting things together instead of tearing them apart. The new energy puts the weak and strong together in ways that make sense and that have integrity. Take a look at what happened to some of the businesses in this great land (USA). Up to 30 years ago, when you started realizing some of them didn't have integrity, you eliminated them. What happened to the tobacco companies when you realized they were knowingly addicting your children? Today, they still sell their products to less-aware countries, but that will also change.

What did you do a few years ago when you realized that your bankers were actually selling you homes that they knew you couldn't pay for later? They were walking away, smiling greedily, not thinking about the heartbreak that was to follow when a life's dream would be lost. Dear American, you are in a recession. However, this is like when you prune a tree and cut back the branches. When the tree grows back, you've got control and the branches will grow bigger and stronger than they were before, without the greed factor. Then, if you don't like the way it grows back, you'll prune it again! I tell you this because awareness is now in control of big money. It's right before your eyes, what you're doing. But fear often rules. …

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Study attacks pharmaceutical firms in Brazil

Deutsche Welle, 6 December 2012



A study on the business practices of drug companies Bayer, Baxter and Boehringer Ingelheim in Brazil criticized their pricing and marketing strategies as well as choice of drugs. The companies reject the allegations.

Brazilis known for its contrasts. The emerging market is attractive for international pharmaceutical companies, yet many Brazilians live in poverty and rely on low-cost drugs when they get sick.

To that end, the German non-governmental organization "Federal Coordination of Internationalism" (BUKO) launched a pharmaceutical campaign to investigate business practices of three international pharma companies that have been operating in Brazil for decades: Bayer HealthCare, Baxter and Boehringer Ingelheim.

For the study, which ran from January 2011 to June 2012, the organization examined the companies' products, pricing and marketing. Despite mentioning some positive aspects, the study's authors delivered a negative conclusion, pointing to high prices that blocked access to essential drugs, dubious and, in some cases, even dangerous drugs and misleading marketing practices.

More studies to follow

The Brazilian study, "At the Expense of the Poor," follows an earlier one conducted by the group in 2010 involving the same companies in India. The situation in South Africa will be the focus of a study planned for next year.

Rogério Hoefler questions
how products are marketed
Of the three companies examined in Brazil, Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim was ranked as the one with the "worst" business practices. The report's authors were particularly critical of the company's painkiller "Buscopan Composto."

The drug contains the controversial active ingredient metamizole, which can cause side-effects such as "agranulocytosis." The condition causes a sharp decrease in white blood cells, which are important for the immune system.

Without providing exact figures, the study estimates that about one in 3,000 patients taking metamizole suffers from agranulocytosis.

The drug is prohibited in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Sweden. In 1987, all medications containing it were banned from the German market, and approval to produce it was revoked three years later. But as a single agent, metamizole can still be used in certain clearly defined situations, according to the German Drug Commission.

Ethically questionable marketing

In Brazil, by comparison, "Buscopan Composto" is still available over the counter as tablets or drops. In fact, the painkiller is on the list of drugs recommended by the National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA), which approves and controls all drugs in the country.

Developing new drugs can cost
billions of euros
"ANVISA is only a little over 10 years old - it's still in its infancy," says Rogério Hoefler from the Brazilian Chamber of Pharmacists, which participated in the study.

The way the product is marketed, Hoefler says, is ethically questionable. He believes companies are taking advantage of weaknesses in the Brazilian health care system. "Even though they know that certain agents are not suited for the market, they sell them as long as the government allows," he points out.

BUKO believes Boehringer Ingelheim continues to sell metamizole for economic gain. Buscopan Composto is one of Brazil's best-selling drugs. It accounted for 11 percent of the company's sales last year.

"The responsible national authority decides whether or not to approve a drug in a country," Boehringer Ingelheim spokesman Michael Kagerbauer told DW. "Boehringer Ingelheim only sells drugs that have a positive benefit-risk assessment – in other words, where the benefits outweigh the risks."

Convinced of safety and effectiveness

The drug is approved in more than 20 countries, including Argentina, Belgium and Spain, according to Kagerbauer.

Bayer HealthCare disagrees with
the study
Members of BUKO's pharmaceutical campaign have maintained a critical dialog with Boehringer Ingelheim for years, arguing that the drug is dangerous and should be removed from the market.

The company disagrees. "We are convinced of the product's safety and effectiveness," said Kagerbauer.

In 1990, Brazil set out to launch a health system aimed at guaranteeing access to free basic medical care for all its citizens. Also, the state-run pharmacies, known as "Farmacias Popular," would either sell critical drugs for less or provide them free of charge.

According to a pharmaceutical study, however, around 40 percent of the drugs to be provided for free are not available in the state pharmacies. These can only be purchased in private pharmacies and at a much higher price.

Only affordable for the wealthy

The state hospitals also lack sufficient personnel and equipment, unlike the private hospitals, which are much better equipped, but also more expensive. Only wealthy Brazilians can afford to purchase private health insurance to complement their state coverage.

Many poor Brazilians can't afford
higher-priced drugs
High drug prices are a central criticism of the study. About one fourth of Baxter's drug assortment in Brazil is in the up-market sector.

Leverkusen-based Bayer HealthCare manufactures "Nexavar," is a highly effective drug to treat liver cancer. In Brazil, a package of 60 tablets costs about 2,940 euros ($3,851) - a price that is prohibitive for even the middle class.

Bayer attributes the high price to research and development costs. But sorabenib, the active ingredient in Nexavar, was developed by a smaller company as contract research, argues the study's authors.

"The assertions and numbers published in the study are false," Bayer spokeswoman Kerstin Crusius told DW. "Nexavar stems from a joint research project in which we collaborated with our partner to explore and develop new drugs to combat cancer. The development of a new drug is a long, complex and risky process that costs more than a billion euros."

Members of BUKO's pharmaceutical campaign are also critical of Bayer's "Supradyn Pré Natal" vitamin supplement. They claim it contains 25 different active ingredients, which, when they interact, can cause unpredictable reactions. And they criticize the products advertising, which involves a television commercial with a mother and her son taking a vitamin tablet together along with eating fast-food.

Abiding by the law

Spokeswoman Crusius maintains that Bayer abides by all rules governing global advertising. "All our marketing activities carried out worldwide are in strict accordance with national standards and laws," she said.

In fact, Bayer HealthCare vehemently criticizes the study conducted by the BUKO pharmaceutical campaign. "The published study," the company said in a statement, "only partly describes our activities while neglecting others, such as our involvement in the area of the chagas disease. And it also contains factual errors."

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