It was alleged and widely believed that the US government played a key role in sabotaging Professor Senaka Bibile’s “Pharmaceutical policy”. Leaked US Diplomatic Cables show that US did play a key role in sabotaging the drug policy which the Sri Lanka State Pharmaceutical Corporation tried to implement.
Prof. Senaka Bibile
At the time, Pharmaceutical companies in the country made considerable money by selling drugs under their trade names, giving out biased information about the branded drugs as against those named generically. The United Front Government of 1970 appointed Dr S.A. Wickremasinghe and Dr. Bibile to lead a commission of inquiry to investigate this issue and they recommended the establishment a national policy and of a state body to regularise the trade. Accordingly, in 1971 T.B. Subasinghe, the Cabinet Minister of Industries, appointed Professor Senaka Bibile founder chairman of the Sri Lanka State Pharmaceutical Corporation.
Today the 13th of February is the 96th birth anniversary of professor Senaka Bibile. He is best known for his advocacy of the government-controlled pharmaceutical purchasing plans often referred to as “rationalisation” of pharmaceuticals and the development of a national pharmaceuticals policy. He played the leading role in developing a rational pharmaceutical policy aimed at ensuring that impoverished people would get reasonable drugs at a low price.
In a Confidential US diplomatic cable dated March 23, 1973 the US State Department informed US embassy Colombo that “Sri Lanka State Pharmaceutical Corporation (SPC) announced on March 09 that SPC would assume total control of imports of bulk raw materials and finished goods and would become sole importer by end of 1973. Pharmaceutical Manufactures Association (PMA) requested that embassy get in touch with US drug firm representatives in Colombo and suggested protest to GSL by embassy might be appropriate,”
On March 27, 1973, the US Embassy replied to the Secretary of State saying; “Embassy has been in touch with Warren Williams, PFIZER representative here. March 23 meeting saw Bibile lay down law to local Pharmaceutical representatives including members Ceylon Pharmaceutical Manufactures Association (CPMA) in acrimonious discussion. GSL policy calls for GSL to handle all imports and distribution, decide which manufactures will produce which products, and purchase raw materials on world wide tender. Drugs to be sold under genetic names. CPMA conducting public campaign against SPC decision. Embassy believes SPC intends proceed with plans in doctrinaire manner, but one argument which influence others in GSL against move is potential adverse effect on future foreign investment. SPC actions appear to leave little scope for private drug business, and Williams unofficially says PFIZER would have to pull out of Sri Lanka. Ambassador plans raise issues with Industries Minister Subasingha.”
On March 29, 1973, the US Department of State wrote to the US Embassy Colombo; “Dept endorses your plan to talk with industries Minister and we agree approach emphasizing deterrent effect this can have on private foreign investment, which GSL claims it wants, at least in certain fields, is the best argument we have.”
Colombo Telegraph found the related cables from the WikiLeaks database. We publish below all the relevant cables;
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY
Date:1973 March 23, 00:24 (Friday) Canonical ID:1973STATE053459_b
Original Classification:CONFIDENTIAL Current Classification:UNCLASSIFIED
Handling Restrictions– N/A or Blank —
Character Count:3148
Executive Order:GS Locator:TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:CE – Sri Lanka | EIND – Economic Affairs–Commerce, Industry and Industrial Products; Industry and Manufacturing | ETRD – Economic Affairs–Foreign Trade Concepts:– N/A or Blank —
Enclosure:– N/A or Blank — Type:TE – Telegram (cable)
Office Origin:ORIGIN NEA – Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
Office Action:– N/A or Blank — Archive Status:Electronic Telegrams
Markings:Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005
From:Department of State
To:Sri Lanka Colombo
1. REPRESENTATIVE OF PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOC-
IATION ( PMA) HAS ADVISED DEPT OF FOLLOWING INFO IT HAS
RECEIVED ON GSL PLANS RE PHARMACEUTICAL IMPORTS INTO SRI
LANKA:
A) SRI LANKA STATE PHARMACEUTICAL CORP. ( SPC)
ANNOUNCED ON MARCH 9 THAT SPC WOULD ASSUME TOTAL CONTROL OF
IMPORTS OF BULK RAW MATERIALS AND FINISHED GOODS AND WOULD
BECOME SOLE IMPORTER BY END OF 1973.
B) SPC HAS CALLED MEETING FOR MARCH 23 AT WHICH
PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS WILL BE GIVEN DETAILS AND
ASKED TO COOPERATE.
C) PMA HAS PRESS ARTICLE WHICH INDICATES SPC MAY TAKE
OVER DISTRIBUTION OF FINISHED GOODS, BUT THERE HAS BEEN
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 STATE 053459
NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT IN THIS RESPECT.
D) GSL MOTIVATION SEEMS TO BE EFFORT TO SAVE FX.
2. PMA HAS EXPRESSED FOLLOWING CONCERNS REGARDING THIS
ACTION:
A) IF US SUPPLIERS WERE UNDERBID BY OTHER FOREIGN
SUPPLIERS US AFFILIATES IN SRI LANKA WOULD BE FORCED TO
USE MATERIALS FROM THESE OTHER SOURCES.
B) IT VIOLATES COMPANY’ S RIGHT TO ASSURE QUALITY OF
ITS OWN PRODUCTS.
C) IT WOULD REMOVE THE ASSURANCE OF QUALITY DRUGS.
D) WHERE PATENTS ARE INVOLVED, IT MIGHT FORCE A
SUBSIDIARY TO INFRINGE ON ITS OWN PARENT’ S PATENT.
E) IT DISCOURAGES SUPPLIERS OF QUALITY MATERIALS AND
LEADS TO FEWER BIDDERS AND HIGHER PRICES INSTEAD OF
STIMULATING COMPETITION.
F) IT DISCOURAGES COMPANIES IN SRI LANKA WHO HAVE
WORLD- WIDE QUALITY REPUTATION AT STAKE — COMPANIES WHICH
INCUR EXPENSES FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AND HIGH
QUALITY CONTROL.
G) IT DISCOURAGES FUTURE FOREIGN INVESTMENT.
H) IT REMOVES ACCESS TO, OR DELAYS INTRODUCTION OF,
NEW PRODUCTS IN SRI LANKA BY DISCOURAGING FOREIGN COM-
PANIES FROM DOING BUSINESS THERE.
3. PMA REQUESTED DEPT ADVISE EMBASSY OF ABOVE, REQUESTED
THAT EMBASSY GET IN TOUCH WITH US DRUG FIRM REPRESENTATIVES
IN COLOMBO AND SUGGESTED PROTEST TO GSL BY EMBASSY MIGHT
BE APPROPRIATE.
4. DEPT ADVISED PMA REP THAT QUESTION HAD ORIGINALLY
ARISEN ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO ( COLOMBO 064, JANUARY 09, 1971)
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 STATE 053459
AND THAT AMBASSADOR HAD DISCUSSED MATTER WITH INDUSTRIES
MINISTER AT THAT TIME. DEPT AGREED PASS ALONG PMA INFO
AND VIEWS TO EMBASSY BUT INDICATED THAT AS EXACT NATURE OF
PROBLEM AS YET UNKNOWN, PROTEST BY EMBASSY DID NOT APPEAR
TO BE IN ORDER AT THIS TIME.
5. APPRECIATE EMBASSY KEEPING US ADVISED OF DEVELOPMENTS
IN THIS MATTER. ROGERS
CONFIDENTIAL
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA
Date:1973 March 27, 10:02 (Tuesday) Canonical ID:1973COLOMB00764_b
Original Classification:CONFIDENTIAL Current Classification:UNCLASSIFIED
Handling Restrictions– N/A or Blank —
Character Count:2145
Executive Order:GS Locator:TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:CE – Sri Lanka | EIND – Economic Affairs–Commerce, Industry and Industrial Products; Industry and Manufacturing | ETRD – Economic Affairs–Foreign Trade Concepts:– N/A or Blank —
Enclosure:– N/A or Blank — Type:TE – Telegram (cable)
Office Origin:– N/A or Blank —
Office Action:ACTION NEA – Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Archive Status:Electronic Telegrams
Markings:Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005
From:Sri Lanka Colombo
To:Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs | Secretary of State
1. SUMMARY: EMBASSY HAS BEEN IN TOUCH WITH WARREN WILLIAMS,
PFIZER REPRESENTATIVE HERE. MARCH 23 MEETING SAW BIBILE LAY DOWN
LAW TO LOCAL PHARMACEUTICAL REPRESENTATIVES INCLUDING MEMBERS
CEYLON PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSN ( CPMA) IN ACRIMONIOUS
DISCUSSION. GSL POLICY CALLS FOR GSL TO HANDLE ALL IMPORTS AND
DISTRIBUTION, DECIDE WHICH MANUFACTURERS WILL PRODUCE WHICH PRO-
DUCTS, AND PURCHASE RAW MATERIALS ON WORLDWIDE TENDER. DRUGS
TO BE SOLD UNDER GENERIC NAMES. CPMA CONDUCTING PUBLIC CAM-
PAIGN AGAINST SPC DECISION. EMBASSY BELIEVES SPC INTENDS PRO-
CEED WITH PLANS IN DOCTRINAIRE MANNER, BUT ONE ARGUMENT WHICH
MIGHT INFLUENCE OTHERS IN GSL AGAINST MOVE IS POTENTIAL AD-
VERSE EFFECT ON FUTURE FOREIGN INVESTMENT. SPC ACTIONS APPEAR
TO LEAVE LITTLE SCOPE FOR PRIVATE DRUG BUSINESS, AND WILLIAMS
UNOFFICIALLY SAYS PFIZER WOULD HAVE TO PULL OUT OF SRI LANKA.
AMBASSADOR PLANS RAISE ISSUE WITH INDUSTRIES MINISTER SUB-
ASINGHA. END SUMMARY.
2. PFIZER GENERAL MANAGER, WARREN W. WILLIAMS, BRIEFED AMB
21 MARCH ON STATE PHARMACEUTICAL CORP. ( SPC) EFFORTS IMPOSE
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 COLOMB 00764 271117 Z
WILL ON SRI LANKA PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY.
3. SPC CHAIRMAN BIBILE MARCH 23 HELD MEETING MENTIONED RHE COMMUNIST
PARTY ( DKP). THIS LEAVES TWO STAMOKAPS
AMONG REMAINING SEVEN MEMBERS OF FRANKFURT JUSO BOARD. ELECTIONS
TO BE HELD AT LOCAL JUSO CONFERENCE MARCH THIRTY- ONE SHOULD GIVE
MEASURE OF RESIDUAL STAMOKAP STRENGTH. HARLAN
UNCLASSIFIED
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA
Date:1973 March 29, 23:52 (Thursday) Canonical ID:1973STATE058573_b
Original Classification:CONFIDENTIAL Current Classification:UNCLASSIFIED
Handling Restrictions– N/A or Blank —
Character Count:1415
Executive Order:– N/A or Blank — Locator:TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:CE – Sri Lanka | EIND – Economic Affairs–Commerce, Industry and Industrial Products; Industry and Manufacturing | ETRD – Economic Affairs–Foreign Trade Concepts:– N/A or Blank —
Enclosure:– N/A or Blank — Type:TE – Telegram (cable)
Office Origin:ORIGIN NEA – Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs
Office Action:– N/A or Blank — Archive Status:Electronic Telegrams
Markings:Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005
From:Department of State
To:Sri Lanka Colombo
1. SUBSTANCE OF REFTEL WAS PASSED TO REPRESENTATIVE OF
PHARMACEUTICAL MANUFACTURER’ S ASSOCIATION ( PMA) MARCH 28.
PMA HAD RECEIVED SIMILAR REPORT ON EVENTS PRESUMABLY FROM
WILLIAMS. ALTHOUGH PMA AND PFIZER OBVIOUSLY DISTURBED
AT APPARENT COURSE EVENTS ARE TAKING, THEY SEEM UNCERTAIN
WHAT COURSE OF ACTION THEY WISH TO TAKE.
2. DEPT ENDORSES YOUR PLAN TO TALK WITH INDUSTRIES
MINISTER AND WE AGREE APPROACH EMPHASIZING DETERRENT
EFFECT THIS CAN HAVE ON PRIVATE FOREIGN INVESTMENT, WHICH
GSL CLAIMS IT WANTS, AT LEAST IN CERTAIN FIELDS, IS BEST
ARGUMENT WE HAVE. WHEN YOU BELIEVE IT APPROPRIATE, IT
MIGHT ALSO BE USEFUL TO EXPRESS OUR CONCERN THAT IF GSL
IMPLEMENTS PLAN, IT SHOULD BE DONE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO
TAKE INTO ACCOUNT LEGITIMATE INTERESTS OF AMERICAN
PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES. ROGERS
CONFIDENTIAL
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA
Date:1973 April 5, 06:45 (Thursday) Canonical ID:1973COLOMB00869_b
Original Classification:CONFIDENTIAL Current Classification:UNCLASSIFIED
Handling Restrictions– N/A or Blank —
Character Count:916
Executive Order:RR Locator:TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:CE – Sri Lanka | EIND – Economic Affairs–Commerce, Industry and Industrial Products; Industry and Manufacturing | ETRD – Economic Affairs–Foreign Trade Concepts:– N/A or Blank —
Enclosure:– N/A or Blank — Type:TE – Telegram (cable)
Office Origin:– N/A or Blank —
Office Action:ACTION NEA – Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Archive Status:Electronic Telegrams
From:Sri Lanka Colombo Markings:Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005
To:Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs | Secretary of State
1. RECENT PUBLIC STATEMENTS BY STATE PHARMACEUTICAL CORP.
CHAIRMAN DR. BIBILE APPEAR INDICATE HE WAFFLING AND MAY RPT
MAY NOW BE WILLING COMPROMISE ON QUESTION USE GENERIC NAMES
FOR DRUGS.
2. ACCORDINGLY, AMBASSADOR, INCONSULTATION WITH WILLIAMS OF
PFIZER, HAS DECIDED REFRAIN FOR PRESENT FROM APPROACH TO IN-
DUSTRIES MINISTER SUBASINGHE.
VAN HOLLEN
CONFIDENTIAL
PHARMACEUTICAL PATENT PROPOSALS
Date:1973 April 6, 20:09 (Friday) Canonical ID:1973STATE064074_b
Original Classification:UNCLASSIFIED Current Classification:UNCLASSIFIED
Handling Restrictions– N/A or Blank —
Character Count:1815
Executive Order:– N/A or Blank — Locator:TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:CE – Sri Lanka | EIND – Economic Affairs–Commerce, Industry and Industrial Products; Industry and Manufacturing | ETRD – Economic Affairs–Foreign Trade Concepts:– N/A or Blank —
Enclosure:– N/A or Blank — Type:TE – Telegram (cable)
Office Origin:ORIGIN EB – Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
Office Action:– N/A or Blank — Archive Status:Electronic Telegrams
Markings:Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005
From:Department of State
To:Sri Lanka Colombo
1. GSL PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO ABOLISH PRODUCT PATENTS
IN FAVOR OF PROCESS PATENTS IS CONTRARY TO PRODUCT PATENT
PROTECTION TREND IN MANY COUNTRIES INCLUDING SOME 20
EUROPEAN COUNTRIES EXPECTED TO NEGOTIATE EUROPEAN PATENT
CONVENTION LATER THIS YEAR. PROVISION FOR PRODUCT PATENT
PROTECTION IN PRESENT DRAFT EXPECTED REMAIN IN FINAL
CONVENTION WHICH BECOMES EFFECTIVE 1975.
2. SHOULD THE QUESTION ARISE AS TO US PATENT POLICY,
IT SHOULD BE EMPHASIZED THAT US PATENT LAWS ARE AMONG THE
MOST THOROUGH IN PROVIDING FOR PRODUCT PATENT PROTECTION
INCLUDING PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS.
3. HOWEVER, SHOULD GSL PROCEED WITH PLANS ONLY HONOR
UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
PAGE 02 STATE 064074
PROCESS PATENTS FOR DRUGS, IT IS HOPED THAT ANY ACTION
SUCH AS COMPULSORY PATENT LICENSINR WHICH MIGHT BE TAKEN
WOULD BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARIS CONVENTION PROTECTION
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY, TO WHICH GSL SIGNATORY.
4. ACTION REQUESTED: IF DEEMED APPROPRIATE, EMBASSY MAY
UTILIZE THE FOREGOING IN DISCUSSIONS WITH GSL OFFICIALS. ROGERS
UNCLASSIFIED
PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY IN SRI LANKA: STATUS REPORT
Date:1973 May 3, 13:10 (Thursday) Canonical ID:1973COLOMB01123_b
Original Classification:CONFIDENTIAL Current Classification:UNCLASSIFIED
Handling Restrictions– N/A or Blank —
Character Count:4246
Executive Order:GDS Locator:TEXT ONLINE
TAGS:CE – Sri Lanka | EIND – Economic Affairs–Commerce, Industry and Industrial Products; Industry and Manufacturing | ETRD – Economic Affairs–Foreign Trade Concepts:– N/A or Blank —
Enclosure:– N/A or Blank — Type:TE – Telegram (cable)
Office Origin:– N/A or Blank —
Office Action:ACTION NEA – Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs Archive Status:Electronic Telegrams
Markings:Declassified/Released US Department of State EO Systematic Review 30 JUN 2005
From:Sri Lanka Colombo
To: Bureau of Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs | Secretary of State
1. DESPITE SIGNS OF WAFFLING REPORTED REFTEL, NOW APPEARS THAT
STATE PHARMACEUTICAL CORP ( SPC) UNDER AEGIS MINISTRY OF
INDUSTRIES IS DETERMINED TO CARRY ON POLICIES OUTLINED COLOMBO
764. SECRETARY OF THE MINISTRY ISSUED FORMAL STATEMENT
APRIL 11 IN FORM OF LETTER IN REPLY TO CEYLON PHARMACEUTICAL
MANUFACTURERS’ ORGANIZATION WHICH HAD REQUESTED A CLARIFICATION
OF THE GOVERNMENT’ S POLICY IN THE LIGHT OF DR. BIBILE’ S RE-
MARKS ON 23 MARCH.
2. MINISTRY REITERATED THE FUNCTIONS OF SPC AND DECISION THAT FROM
1973 ONWARDS THE SPC WOULD HANDLE THE IMPORT OF DRUGS AS WELL
AS IMPORT OF RAW MATERIALS FOR LOCAL MANUFACTURING. POSITION
TAKEN BY THE SPC CHAIRMAN WAS SPECIFICALLY ENDORSED AS IN FULL
ACCORD WITH GOVERNMENT’ S DECISION. MINISTRY EXPRESSED VIEW THAT
POLICY WOULD LEAD TO A SAVING IN FOREIGN EXCHANGE WITHOUT
ANY IMPAIRMENT OF AVAILABILITY OF DRUGS OR THEIR QUALITY.
3. C. A. BAKER, VP PFIZER CORP AND AREA MANAGER SE ASIA,
CALLED ON AMB APRIL 6 TOGETHER WITH LOCAL PFIZER GENMANAGER
WARREN W. WILLIAMS. BAKER APPEARED TO PIN MUCH HOPE ON LEGAL
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 02 COLOMB 01123 031405 Z
POSITION WHICH HE HAD BACKED UP WITH AN OPINION FROM LEADING
FORM OF COLOMBO LAWYERS. WHILE BAKER GAVE IMPRESSION PFIZER
COULD LIVE WITH USE OF GENERIC NAMES, HE EMPHASIZED THAT
POINTS WHICH COULD LEAD TO A PFIZER PULL- OUT WHERE GSL’ S IN-
SISTENCE ON THE GOVERNMENT IMPORTING THE RAW MATERIALS AND ITS
CLAIM TO MONOPOLY OVER DRUG DISTRIBUTION.
4. AMB EXPRESSED SKEPTICISM THAT LACK OF LEGAL BASIS WOULD
IMPEDE GOVERNMENT ACTIONS. WITH TWO- THIRDS MAJORITY IN THE
NATIONAL STATE ASSEMBLY, VIRTUALLY ANYTHING COULD BE LEGAL-
IZED. HE EXPRESSED WISH TO BE HELPFUL TO PFIZER AND SAID HE
WAS PREPARED AT APPROPRIATE TIME TO RAISE THE INDUSTRIES MIN
T. B. SUBASINGHE POTENTIAL IMPACT OF SUCH GOVERNMENT ACTION
ON THE INVESTMENT CLIMATE. HOWEVER, AMB DID NOT WISH TO INJECT
HIMSELF INTO THE CONTROVERSY UNLESS PFIZER AGREED THAT IT
WOULD BE HELPFUL. BAKER FELT THAT CURRENT GSL ACTIONS AMOUNTED
TO A DE FACTO NATIONALIZATION. HE FELT EMBASSY INVOLVEMENT
WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR PFIZER, AND, IN ANY CASE, THEY HAD REACHED
SHOWDOWN STAGE WITH GSL. UNLESS THE GSL CONCEDED THE TWO MAIN
POINTS OF IMPORTS AND DISTRIBUTION, PFIZER WOULD PULL OUT.
5. WILLIAMS UPDATED SITUATION TO AMB MAY 3. STATED LETTER
AGIN SENT TO T. B. SUBASINGHE SEEKING CLARIFICATION ON GROUNDS
GSL REPLY BY SECRETARY INDUSTRIES MINISTRY FAILED TO ADDRESS
QUESTIONS. LETTER ALSO SENT OR BEING SENT FROM TOP ECHELON OF
PFIZER, INC., TO PM. WILLIAMS FELT PFIZER COULD COMPROMISE
SOME ON CENTRALIZED PURCHASE ISSUE PROVIDED PFIZER COULD SPECIFY
NINE OR TEN CRITICAL COMPONENTS TO BE IMPORTED FROM PARENT
ORGANIZATION TO MAINTAIN ESSENTIAL HIGH QUALITY OF PFIZER
SPECIALITY PRODUCTS. ON DRUG IDENTIFICATION THEY WANTED AT
LEAST PFIZER NAME AND BELIEVED THERE MIGHT BE SOME GSL FLEX-
IBILITY ON THIS POINT. PFIZER INSISTED, HOWEVER, ON RIGHT
CONTINUE DISTRIBUTION AND SALES. WILLIAMS BELIEVES SPC CHAIRMAN
HAS EXCEEDED MANDATE BUT UNFORTUNATELY IS GLIB AND SPECIOUSLY
REASONABLE. WILLIAMS CONCLUDED HE HIMSELF WAS BIT MORE
OPTIMISTIC THAN WHEN HE HAD DISCUSSED MATTER WITH AMB APRIL
6 AND HOPED SOME OF OUTSTANDING ISSUES MIGHT BE NEGOTIABLE.
6. AMB INFORMED WILLIAMS HE PLANNED RAISE SUBJECT IN GENERAL
TERMS WITH PM DURING CALL MAY 4 AND WOULD ALSO INQUIRE WHETHER
SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO SEE MR. J. G. HEIGES, GENERAL COUNSEL AND
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
PAGE 03 COLOMB 01123 031405 Z
MEMBER OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF PFIZER, CORP., NEW YORK, DURING
HEIGES’ S MID- MAY VISIT HERE.
VAN HOLLEN
CONFIDENTIAL
NMAFVVZCZ
B S Perera / February 13, 2016
Can this have some connection with Dr Bibile’s sudden death?
/
Huna / February 13, 2016
Hi BSP,
Check the Wiki page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneka_Bibile
I quote
“
Death
This section possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (August 2015)
Dr Bibile died in 1977 at Guyana, under mysterious circumstances. The section regarding his death is being consistently removed from Wikipedia by an unknown entity, each time someone updates it.
It is a well known ‘secret’ that Dr Bibile was murdered by inducing cardiac arrest using a drug(s) that has been available, even before second world war. One of his colleagues were involved in the murder to ensure that he would not recover from the ‘heart attack’ by not taking prompt action as well as taking the wrong cause of action as well as a delayed cause of action to recover him. As a matter of fact, this doctor colleague of doctor Bibile from UN, asked Mrs Bibile for her forgiveness for letting him die that way, implying that he was simply a tool for corrupted multinational drug companies, in which she replied, “If you can bring him back, then I will forgive you”. Known multinational pharmaceutical companies were involved in Dr Bibile’s murder. The truth will come out one day as it happens all the time.
“
I guess the truth will never be out……
/Huna
/
Amarasiri / February 13, 2016
RE: WikLeaks: Americans Sabotage Senaka Bibile’s “Pharmaceutical Policy”
“On March 29, 1973, the US Department of State wrote to the US Embassy Colombo; “Dept endorses your plan to talk with industries Minister and we agree approach emphasizing deterrent effect this can have on private foreign investment, which GSL claims it wants, at least in certain fields, is the best argument we have.”
“Can this have some connection with Dr Bibile’s sudden death?”
There is smoke for sure. Who lit the Fire? Who would have gained?
On 1952, with Iran, the President Mosadeh was overthrown. Chile Allende, Iraq, WMD… Sound Familiar…
There is smoke for sure. Who lit the Fire? Who would have gained?
/
Sanjaya / February 13, 2016
When US invade Iraq they started stealing oil and those big tankers passed through Doha, one of my friend who’s job to dip those tankers in out harber left his job due to massive workload. U.S. is a Criminal state we have to deal carefully.
/
Jim softy / February 13, 2016
They may have hands in killing him too.
Even Africa and LAtin america develop their vaccines because multinational pharmaceutical companies gauging patients. and countries.
Even right now multinational pharmaceutical companies give freebies to doctors in sri lanka.In turn, doctors prescribe only the medications from those companies.
they don’t prescribe generic or small company – paharmaceuticals
/
Jehan / February 13, 2016
Why didn’t Dr.Bibile who was a Socialist-Communist, get the drugs imported from Russia instead of blaming USA. You talk about Pfizer would be leaving Srilanka.
It is firms like Pfizer that spend millions of dollars in research to discover cures for major diseases like cancer and heart disease. When you have cancer and terminal heart disease who is going to treat you. Are you going to get your medicines from Czechoslovakia?
/
thrishu / February 14, 2016
We can see who takes bribes from Pfizer
/
nimal fernando / February 14, 2016
You are entitled to your opinion but your comment shows you know very little about the USA medical establishment.
Leave aside how they manipulate other countries and plunder their wealth, the most pitiful victims of their money grubbing is their very own citizens.
Don’t believe anyone’s propaganda, if you have the opportunity travel around the USA and observe for yourself.
/
maalumiris / February 14, 2016
@Jehan
Yes
/
InconvenientTruth / February 14, 2016
How little you know! US companies have manipulated drug prices so much so that retirees from US travel to Canada to buy generic brands..yes developing drugs cost money but pricing them out of the reach of ordinary citizens do not save lives, Jehan I suggest you read up on the subject before commenting, you may be able to pay 100,000 Rs for a single dose of a drug but most people in SL and abroad including US cannot!
/
Neil / February 20, 2016
Why not… Don’t Chokazlavia or Russia have medications to treat patients. Only America?
/
mori / February 13, 2016
They got rid of MR in similar fashion so they can reap investments in SL and fleece the country anyway they want !!!! Human Rights violations is a white wash same as ‘weapons of mass destruction’ in Iraq.
/
Rabok / February 16, 2016
After 2009 USA and their lackeys did not allow MR to run the country – like rabbis dog they were chasing behind him with UNHRC
/
Vanguard / February 14, 2016
Who would believe they are capable of such a shameful act. America is a civilized country is it not?
/
maalumiris / February 14, 2016
@Vanguard
You’re kidding, right ???
/
BBS Rep / February 15, 2016
I watched a recent Tamil movie called ‘kaththi’. The movie itself was plain rubbish. But there was an underlying message, that the corporate world was all powerful and is not easy to fight against.
Dr Bibile’s valiant effort against the corporate pharmaceutical world was doomed from the beginning. Today Sri Lanka probably has the most number of pharmacies per capita in the world. In a country that has ‘petti kades’ in every corner of every road selling ‘ganja suruttu’ now has pharmacies in equal number. These pharmacies sell all kinds of dangerous drugs without any prescription and antibiotic pills are sold like ‘kadala’.
In a way we do need Pharmacies in every street corner and in between as well. How else can we cope with the ever bounding cost of living, coping with the mass stealing of tax payers money by people in power, criminal enterprises of politicians blocking every path we need to take in life, facing the wrath of the thugs in saffron robes, the utterly polluted air that we have no choice but to breathe, the incessant tooting of horns by the harassed drivers, etc without access over the counter to ‘endone’, ‘oxycodone’ and temazepam to calm our much harassed minds.
/
Uditha / February 15, 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneka_Bibile#Death
Interesting, isn’t it.
/
sach / February 15, 2016
Dr Bibile died in 1977 at Guyana, under mysterious circumstances. The section regarding his death is being consistently removed from Wikipedia by an unknown entity, each time someone updates it.
It is a well known ‘secret’ that Dr Bibile was murdered by inducing cardiac arrest using a drug(s) that has been available, even before second world war. One of his colleagues were involved in the murder to ensure that he would not recover from the ‘heart attack’ by not taking prompt action as well as taking the wrong cause of action as well as a delayed cause of action to recover him. As a matter of fact, this doctor colleague of doctor Bibile from UN, asked Mrs Bibile for her forgiveness for letting him die that way, implying that he was simply a tool for corrupted multinational drug companies, in which she replied, “If you can bring him back, then I will forgive you”. Known multinational pharmaceutical companies were involved in Dr Bibile’s murder. The truth will come out one day as it happens all the time.
/
samira / February 23, 2016
This is official communication of an embassy. The thoughts of the multinationals is left to our imagination. There are not much rules in the game “profit maximization”
/