August 2005 - Association of Dutch Businessmen

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REVIEW possibly less desirable side-effects. “The pill”-scare in the UK during the 70’s, for instance, was accompanied by a significant increase in abortions. With regard to the role of the media Van Tiel quickly points out that the Singaporean media have always been very professional by checking their information with Organon first before publishing any article. Another controversial subject touched upon were the “doctor visitors”, the sales representatives from pharmaceutical companies that give incentive trips and expensive gifts to GPs thereby encouraging them to buy medicine produced by their employers. According to Van Tiel it is no longer common practice to give GPs incentives to prescribe Organon products these days. The main focus for these sales representatives is to inform the GPs on the existence of new medicines and on new research results for existing medicines. Van Tiel explains that doctors do not have sufficient time to keep up with the latest developments and introduction of new medicine. GPs have the tendency to prescribe ‘older’ drugs they are more familiar with, whereas newer and improved drugs might have been registered over the years. Van Tiel adds that his sales people of course can only give advice on Organon products, and on currently patented drugs, as opposed to generic drugs. However, Van Tiel stresses that this in his opinion does not interfere with the informative role of sales persons play. The pharmaceutical arena in the West and in Asia: the main differences In a global perspective, the Asian market for Pharmaceuticals is still relatively small. Over 80 percent of all its pharmaceutical sales (in total 400 bln USD in 2002) come from Europe and the USA. Less than 1 percent is sold in the ‘developing world’ countries of Asia, including Singapore, with the exception of Japan (14%). A/A/A 1% Europe 31% Japan 14% L-America 2% N-America 52% The Singaporean market, Van Tiel explains, is not very [sexually, ed.] ‘active’. Singapore appears at the bottom of the sexual activity list of the Global Sex Survey 2002, together with Hong Kong (79 times sex per year). Only Japan shows a lower ‘activity rate’ of 46 times a year. Reading the newspapers it may not come as a surprise that the fertility rate is relatively low compared to the rest of the world and, according to government statistics, is decreasing still (over the period of 1991-2001). Added to that, the contraceptive use is different from Western Europe and the U.S.A. A much lower percentage of the women use ‘the pill’ as their means of contraception. As Organon’s best selling product remains “the contraception pill” one can imagine that this has direct impact on the importance of the Asian market for Organon. Conclusion Van Tiel explained that the media in the past have not always painted a very positive picture of pharmaceutical companies. Not only have some of the headlines been based on unsubstantial research, but the important role pharma companies play in informing both the medical world (e.g. GPs and pharmacists) and the general public has often been ignored. Pharmaceutical companies have a high ethical standard, and try to serve the public by manufacturing elaborately researched products and by subsequently informing the public with publications and presentations based on the most up-to-date research findings available. With regard to the Asian market as compared to the rest of the world, Van Tiel highlighted the challenges Organon faces in the currently small Asian and relatively inactive Singaporean market. But with the Chinese market growing by the day, one can imagine there is an even bigger challenge awaiting Organon. Historie Akzo Nobel Organon - with shared head offices in Roseland, NJ, USA, and Oss, The Netherlands - creates and markets prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to become or remain one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core therapeutic fields: reproductive medicine, psychiatry and anesthesia. Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel. Organon is founded in 1923 by Dr. Saal van Zwanenberg, president of Zwanenberg’s Slachterijen en Fabrieken, Professor Ernst Laqueur of the University of Amsterdam, and Dr. Jacques van Oss, a consultant. The company, known as Zwanenberg-Organon, is housed at Zwanenberg’s affiliate premises in Oss , the Netherlands , and a laboratory is established in Amsterdam. More information: - http://www.organon.com/clinical_trials [Information on clinical trials sponsored by Organon] - http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ [Service by U.S. National Institutes of Health on clinical trials] - http://www.fda.gov [Website of the American Federal Drug Authority] - http://www.cbg-meb.nl/ [Website of the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board] - http://www.fdanews.com [American news bulletin on FDA news] - http://medicijn.pagina.nl [Dutch portal for websites on medicines] - http://www.drugdiscoverytoday.com [Independent international drug discovery information website] - http://www.thelancet.com [UK medical journal] 5 Vol.15 • No. 6 • July/August 2005
REVIEW Networking for business success (by Liz Ng, Trade Section, Royal Netherlands Embassy) On the evening of 16 June, the networking event of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in Singapore (ASME) and the Association of Dutch Businessmen (ADB) returned for a fifth successful run. Hosted by Ambassador van Pesch at his Residence, smartly attired businessmen streamed in punctually just before 6.30pm. By 7pm the Ambassador’s Terrace was abuzz with “executive connectivity”. It was a night where 120 members of the ASME and the ADB converged together to explore greater business, From left to right: Mr. Bram Steenks, technological, innovation and market Albert Teo (ASME) and Ambassador H.J. van Pesch opportunities. In his welcome address, Ambassador van Pesch noted with pride and gratitude that it is through such events that both Singapore and Netherlands continued to enjoy improving trade relations year after year. In 2004, the two-way trade stood at an impressive S$12 billion with an increase of 30% over 2003. Mr. Bram Steenks, President of the ADB, acknowledged the night’s success : “the event provided an excellent opportunity for networking between ASME members who represent over 100,000 small and medium companies in Singapore and the members of the ADB. Although the ADB does not represent any Dutch national or multinational companies or private businesses started in Singapore, but merely individuals. It was clear from the many animated discussions, as well as from the time the last members left the event, that there is a real need for this type of contacts. I am personally confident that a few business opportunities have been born that night. I would like to thank the Ambassador and the Embassy staff for organising this high quality event and hope that there will be many more to come.” The ASME shared the same sentiments when they thanked the Embassy for initiating such an exclusive networking event. It remained fervent in continuing its pro-entrepreneurial movement here in Singapore with the Dutch business community and industry. This event offered a rich source of industry contacts with partcipants that range from service providers (bankers, legal, logistics), graphic/ product designers, real estate developers, hoteliers, exhibition stand builders, maritime salvagers, manufacturers such as plastic packaging companies, electronics manufacturing, food/ beverage producers, ICT companies, construction companies to healthcare management companies. Majority of the business executives felt that it was a great way to network under the stars with a sumptuous food spread, wine and like-minded company. For those who have yet to participate in this yearly event, do get ready to be inspired and look out for it again in 2006! 6 Vol.15 • No. 6 • July/August 2005
Page 1 and 2: Jul/Aug 2005 MITA 373/03/2001
Page 3 and 4: A monthly publication of the Associ
Page 5: REVIEW Myths and facts about medici
Page 9 and 10: BUSINESS The top twelve e-mail mist
Page 11 and 12: SINGAPORE The New Downtown, Over th
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