Chapter 365: The top priority of the health department

In the conference room.

When the superior leader said that the pharmaceutical export business had earned US$4.06 million in foreign exchange in just half a year.

The dozen or so people present, except Wang Mengde, all widened their eyes.

This is four hundred million US dollars, and it was earned in just half a year.

You know, in the original history, China only had US$2.15 million in foreign exchange reserves that year.

Don’t think it seems a small amount. It is indeed incomparable with the hundreds, thousands, or trillions of dollars in later generations.

But it was also obtained through the efforts of the whole country of China, which tightened its belt and exchanged it bit by bit for agricultural products, local specialties, industrial raw materials, etc.

In this era, for various reasons, there are not many things in China that are essential abroad.

This results in many products not being able to be sold at a reasonable price.

However, the medicines developed by Wang Mengde in recent years are different. They are currently indispensable abroad.

Medicines like 'Palace Emperor Pills' have become an indispensable part of daily life for both high-ranking officials and common people.

Not to mention men, even women love this medicine.

In the pharmacy, nearly half of the people who buy this medicine are women. For their own sexual happiness, they buy ten or twenty bottles each time to bring home, just like the Chinese people stocking up on New Year's goods during the Spring Festival.

It is the world's first and currently the only mass-produced drug for the treatment of male dysfunction.

China has great initiative.

For example, the price has increased several times over the years.

And the foreign cooperating merchants always welcome the news of price increase with a smile.

As for foreign people, at most they would curse the unscrupulous merchants, but they would still buy the products if they had to.

Other money can be saved, but this kind of money cannot be saved.

In addition to the "Palace Emperor Pills", various other best-selling medicines abroad also have a similar irreplaceable status.

Therefore, the pharmaceutical business has been growing steadily every year, and the foreign exchange earned has been increasing.

"Based on the export volume in the first half of the year, if nothing unexpected happens for the whole year, the probability of achieving $800 million in foreign exchange revenue is very high."

It took a while for everyone to come to their senses from the news, and one of the leaders said with great joy.

At the end of last year, the higher authorities set new year and annual goals for the health and family planning departments.

The leader of the health and family planning department raised the amount to US$800 million during the conversation with Wang Mengde.

At that time, everyone, including the department leaders, was unsure about what to do.

After all, it is not necessarily possible to improve so much at once.

However, Wang Mengde is full of confidence in this. After all, these are the results of his research and development, and each one is a necessary medicine for some people.

For example, artificially synthesized bovine insulin is indispensable for patients with severe diabetes to survive.

There is also the "Bazhen Shenxi Pills". Now, leukemia patients and their families abroad regard it as a miracle drug.

Even if the price is high, as long as conditions permit, I will grit my teeth and buy it even if it means selling everything I have.

At present, after more than half a year of development, the sales of these two drugs are almost catching up with the "Palace Emperor Pills".

“I think it’s almost certain. There was a small accident in the first half of the year, but we lost tens of millions of dollars in foreign exchange income.

Even so, we have achieved such good results, far exceeding the goals set at the end of last year.

In the second half of the year, pharmaceutical companies can continue to increase their production capacity, which is all money. It will be easy to sell another $400 million."

At this time, another leader also said with a smile.

"Yes, I think so too. Everything is difficult at the beginning. We have made a good start. All we have to do next is to proceed steadily."

"Yes, at first I thought it would be great to have around 3.5 million in half a year, but I didn't expect it to exceed million US dollars. Since the first half of the year was enough, the second half must also be enough."

"Our task in the second half of the year is to ensure the successful completion of the pharmaceutical export business. I suggest that this work be listed as the top priority of the health and family planning departments."

"I agree. Why not set up a team to protect the export of medicines?"

Other leaders also spoke enthusiastically.

Before, they only knew that the pharmaceutical business was booming, and even if major domestic pharmaceutical factories worked at full capacity to produce, they would all be sold out, and there would still be a shortage of supply.

Now, they know the specific numbers, and the impact is so great that even these high-ranking leaders are shocked.

What's more, if we can really reach US$800 million in foreign exchange earnings this year.

The health and family planning department has made the greatest contribution. From the department leaders to the front-line workers in the pharmaceutical factories, all can benefit.

And they are the group of people who can gain the greatest benefits besides Wang Mengde.

Therefore, everyone was eager to raise their hands in agreement and actively offer suggestions.

These are all political achievements.

If they really exceed their targets this year, it will be a highlight on each of their resumes.

In the future, whether you are transferred to other departments to become a leader or move up the career ladder, it will be of great help.

"Comrade Wang Mengde, what suggestions do you have?"

The senior leaders of the health and family planning department were very satisfied to see how enthusiastic everyone was.

Of course, he did not settle the matter immediately, but instead asked Wang Mengde a question specifically.

As the developer of most medicines, the opinion of this young man in front of him must be more important.

"Boss, I have a suggestion.

Most of the medicines exported by our country are Chinese patent medicines.

This kind of medicine has certain special characteristics because its raw materials are Chinese herbal medicines, etc., and there is not much research on it abroad.

Generally speaking, it is very difficult to crack the ingredients of Chinese patent medicines, so the probability of leakage or prevention is not high.

But it is different with Western medicine, because most of the chemical components in it can be analyzed by doing more experiments in the laboratory.

Moreover, China's scientific and technological strength still lags far behind that of Western developed countries.

Once Western medicines like "Levofloxacin" are sold publicly, they will be copied sooner or later, and it won't take too long.

If our technology is successfully copied by other countries, we will have no advantage in terms of cost or scale based on our industrial strength.

Sooner or later, the market will be seized, or even sold to us, making money for our country.

Therefore, I suggest changing the sales method to maximize profits and avoid damaging the interests of the country."

Wang Mengde said directly.

This was also a question he thought of after developing "Levofloxacin".

Previously, most of the medicines exported by China were traditional Chinese medicines.

Except for Japan, South Korea and some Southeast Asian countries, other Western countries have very limited understanding of this.

Even if you want to imitate it, it will be a waste of effort if you don't understand the principle.

So he was very relieved.

Just like the "Palace Emperor Pill", according to the staff of relevant departments, there are at least 80 large foreign pharmaceutical groups or research institutions conducting research on it. After all, this drug has brought a great impact to most people in the world.

At the same time, anyone can see the huge benefits involved.

As long as we can crack this secret and successfully imitate it, we can make at least two or three hundred million dollars every year.

Moreover, the market has not been fully developed and many potential customers have not been tapped.

In addition, China's production has not yet shown strong growth potential, although a small number of drugs have begun to be sold in China.

So, for the sake of profit, they spent a lot of money to get the best personnel and equipment.

Over the years, a lot of money and time have been spent, but there has been basically no progress.

But Western medicine is different. Its chemical components can be analyzed through a few more tests, and then with the use of powerful industrial production capabilities, the price will definitely be reduced to an extremely low level.

After Wang Mengde said this, the faces of more than a dozen leaders in the conference room changed drastically.

When they thought about it carefully, they found that things were exactly as Wang Mengde said.

Fortunately, the medicines previously exported to earn foreign exchange were basically Chinese patent medicines made from Chinese herbal medicines, and there was no risk of being copied.

However, the newly developed "Levofloxacin" is different.

This is standard Western medicine.

Some time ago, the Beijing Gene Research Institute reported the successful development of a new drug, and everyone was very happy.

This is a new breakthrough. After all, China's Western medicines were basically imitations of mature foreign medicines, and there was little ability to innovate.

Now, a new drug has been developed that is not even available abroad.

Moreover, this medicine is said to be so effective that it can even cure cholera, an infectious disease that people are terrified of.

Through clinical trials, patients infected with cholera were basically cured after taking this drug.

This made the leaders of the health and family planning departments overjoyed.

We plan to sell the product abroad to earn foreign exchange, just like other medicines, once it is industrially mass-produced.

"Comrade Wang Mengde, you discovered this problem, do you have a solution?"

The senior leader of the health department asked hurriedly.

“Leader, if we can apply for patents in every Western country, it may be possible to protect it from being prevented.

But because our country has abolished patents, this method no longer works.

The only way I can think of is to use licensing or technology transfer to get the most profit."

Wang Mengde thought about it and then briefly explained the solution.

"Direct authorization or technology transfer? Isn't that just selling the old hen that lays eggs? Is there any other way?"

After listening to Wang Mengde’s proposal, one of the leaders frowned and said.

Rather than a one-time deal, he would rather go for a long-term approach.

Moreover, this medicine was developed in China with great difficulty, and its efficacy is so powerful.

"Leader, I can't think of any other solution for now."

Wang Mengde shook his head.

Without patent protection, putting 'levofloxacin' on the market would be no different from a beautiful girl walking naked in a house full of hooligans.

Even if there is a patent, the rights and interests may not be guaranteed. After all, the ancestors of those Western countries were many pirates and robbers.

For money, those people can do anything.

Moreover, at this time, China has little say in the international arena and is more easily manipulated.

"What if we sell the drugs for a while, and then when they are about to succeed in developing the drug, we directly license the production or transfer the technology, is that ok?"

Another leader said without giving up.

He was really unwilling to just give away the medicines that China had produced with so much effort.

“I’m afraid that’s not possible. Western medicines are easily copied. As long as we do more experiments, we can basically understand it.

We in China have the ability to imitate their drugs. Foreign technology is more advanced, so it is completely easy to imitate them successfully.

We also have no way of knowing the exact timing. If someone succeeds in copying our product before we authorize production or transfer technology, then we will be in big trouble.”

Before Wang Mengde could speak, another leader began to explain.

More than a dozen people discussed the issue over and over, but ultimately no solution was reached.

Seeing that it was getting late, the leader coughed and said, "Okay, since there is no solution for the time being, let's talk about it later.

Anyway, this drug is still in the clinical trial stage, and it will take some time before it can be mass-produced, so let’s stop here for today.

The meeting adjourned. "

After everyone else left, the top leader, Dean Lu, and Wang Mengde came to his office.

After the secretary made some tea, the leader smiled and said:

"Comrade Wang Mengde, I heard that you are now in charge of logistics at the Chinese Medicine Research Institute. You can't let this distract you from your work."

"Boss, don't worry, I don't usually take care of the logistics work, it's all in the charge of the directors below.

At most, you just need to come up with an idea or some thoughts and then arrange them. It won’t involve too much energy.”

Wang Mengde also explained with a smile.

He was telling the truth. There were already regulations for logistics work. The directors and deputy directors below just needed to follow the previous procedures.

Only some important matters will be reported to him.

This workload is nothing to him. On average, it takes less than 20 minutes a day.

"That's fine."

The big boss nodded and said, "By the way, you made quite a stir some time ago.

Especially with regard to the arrangements for employee benefits and retired employees, even the higher-ups have heard about it, and several leaders have praised it, believing that this is how our country's enterprises and factories should do it.

Now many large companies and organizations are also learning from your experience and practices.”

Since the Beijing Daily reported that the institute visited and commended retired employees, many newspapers have conducted interviews.

Even the Huaguo Daily published an editorial.

This incident caused a sensation across the country. It may be difficult to provide benefits to employees, but many companies are imitating and learning from the practice of giving big red commendation letters to retired employees.

Especially the four big words "Retirement is Glorious", each one written bigger than the other.

"Leader, this is what I should do. After all, the retired employees have made lifetime contributions to the factory, and this is what they deserve."

Wang Mengde said modestly.

After returning from his superiors, when Wang Mengde said goodbye to Dean Lu, he suddenly thought of something and said hurriedly:

"Dean, I have something to do tomorrow and would like to leave work an hour early."

(End of this chapter)