Road-trip to Ulm (23-01-04)

 

TRIP TO ULM
Friday, the 23rd of January 2004

Our visit to Ulm was so much more interesting than the programme indicated, or I expected. At the pharmaceutical company Ratiopharm, the brand manager of this international firm gave us an overview of the company, which not only has a 29% share of the German generic medicine market, but also is the market leader in Europe and the third largest firm of its kind in the world. The group responded with lively questioning, covering a wide spectrum of topics regarding the testing, production and marketing of medicine, ethical issues surrounding the pharmaceutical industry and a topic that is very relevant and important in South Africa: The production and supply of affordable anti-retroviral medication, especially for those living with HIV/Aids in developing countries such as our own.

At the presentation we learnt that Ratiopharm manufactures 280 products in 750 different formulations. During the factory tour we (dressed very smartly in our lab coats and protective gear!) saw how various products, such as tablets, sprays and ointments are made and packaged. We also saw the quality controllers in action and the computerised storeroom was very interesting. The company treated us both to coffee and Brezeln and lunch and on top of all that each member of the group also received a gift package! The employees we were so impressed by our singing that a rumour reached the kitchen staff and we had to give a second performance!!

After this encore we left for the Südwest Presse, a local newspaper which is distributed to around 800 cities, towns and villages in the area. Here the group had a discussion with two experienced journalists, Detlev Ahlers and Willi Böhmer. Again the students proved their inquisitiveness and interest by peppering our hosts (who are probably more used to the reverse scenario) with questions. These questions ranged from the way this newspaper is run, to questions about journalistic practise in Germany and in general, to their personal experiences working in this field: Why are the advertisements placed where they are? What can be advertised? Has an editor the right to refuse to publish a piece with which he disagrees? How is objectivity maintained? This discussion could have continued for much longer, but we were running out of time and hurried away to our last stop for the day, the Ulmer Münster, armed with the latest addition of the Südwest Presse.

Report by Marinette Grimbeek (University of Pretoria)