Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4918
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: media release
Perera P.
Sri Lankan Wins International Award
Health Action International Asia - Pacific (HAIAP) 2006 May 23
http://www.haiap.org
Full text:
PRESS RELEASE
23rd May 2006 (Olle Hansson Day)
Sri Lankan Wins International Award
The Olle Hansson Award recognizes the work of individuals from developing
countries who have contributed most to promoting the concepts of essential
drugs and their rational use and increasing the awareness among consumers of
the dangers of irrational and hazardous drugs. The award is named in honour
of Dr Olle Hansson a Swedish paediatric neurologist internationally known
for his advocacy of SMON (Sub-acute Myelo Optic Neuropathy) victims who were
paralysed or blinded after using clioquinol, an antidiarrhoeal drug. The
awardee is chosen by an international selection panel of three eminent
persons. The award is managed by Health Action International Asia – Pacific
(HAIAP).
The Olle Hansson Award 2006 has been awarded to Dr Kumariah Balasubramaniam
an expert in health and pharmaceuticals who has held important positions at
various levels both locally and internationally in the sphere of health and
pharmaceuticals. In recognition of his contributions towards rational use of
medicines and access to essential medicines during several years and his
continued efforts in ensuring health for all Dr Balasubramaniam would
receive this award from Dr Prem Chandran John the Chairperson, Governing
Council, HAIAP at a simple ceremony in Colombo.
Dr Balasubramaniam, a teacher, author, strategist, guide and mentor and
above all a health activist hails from Jaffna, Sri Lanka. He graduated in
medicine from the University of Sri Lanka and worked in the public sector
for a few years. In the early 1960s he joined the University of Peradeniya,
Department of Pharmacology to work under the late Prof Senaka Bibile who
introduced the well known Pharmaceutical reforms for Sri Lanka in 1972.
He was appointed Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacology, University
of Sri Lanka in 1975. In 1978 he left Sri Lanka to join the United Nations
Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Geneva as the Senior
Pharmaceutical Advisor and worked till 1986. During his career in UNCTAD,
he visited several developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to
advise Ministries of Health in developing countries to rationalize their
pharmaceutical supply system and have rational national drug policies.
In 1987 he joined Consumers International Regional Office for Asia and
Pacific (CIROAP) as the Co-ordinator for Action for Rational Drugs in Asia
(ARDA) which was relocated to Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2002 and renamed Health
Action International Asia Pacific (HAIAP).
During his 30 year stint in the field of pharmaceuticals and health Dr
Balasubramaniam has received many a honour and award including the
Commonwealth Vice – Chancellors’ Fellowship Award 1994/95, Australia. He has
been a part of many an affiliation including; member of the Advisory Board
of the HAI/WHO Medicine Price Project, Member of Task Force 5, Access to
Medicines Millennium Development Goals, Member of the Editorial Board of
PLoS Medicine etc. He has published innumerable papers on a variety of
topics ranging from rational use of drugs to drug prices, availability and
access to medicines, intellectual property rights and access to medicines,
poverty and health etc.
His knowledge, expertise, exposure, representation at local and
international conferences, networking skills have influenced global
pharmaceutical thinking to a great extent and have resulted in the
initiation of movements such as the global Peoples Health Movement (PHM).
Health Action International Asia-Pacific is a network of organizations and
individuals involved in health and pharmaceutical issues. HAI Asia-Pacific
upholds health as a fundamental human right and aspires for a just and
equitable society.
For more information please contact:
Prasadini Perera
Project Officer
Health Action International Asia-Pacific (HAIAP)
No. 05, Level 02, Frankfurt Place
Colombo 04
SRI LANKA
Tel: + 94 112 554353
Fax: +94 112 554270
E-mail: prasadini@haiap.org
_________________________________
Prasadini Perera
Project Officer
Health Action International Asia Pacific (HAIAP)
No. 05, Level 02, Frankfurt Place
Colombo 04, Sri Lanka
Tel: + 94 112 554353 Fax: + 94 112 554570
E-mail: prasadini@haiap.org
Website: http://www.haiap.org
Health Action International (HAI) is an independent, global network working
to increase access to essential medicines and improve their rational use.
_______________________________________________
