Now [him] doesn't want to look a gift horse in the mouth. But is Pfizer's Arthrotec the best antinflammatory to send across the border into Burma with the medics? [him] thinks it is not.

Arthrotec is not one medication. It is a combination tablet with two medications in it. One is diclofenac. A cheaper and readily available alternative to this drug is ibuprofen. But the other medication in Arthrotec is misoprostol. This drug can cause abortion and should not be given to women who are pregnant or may become pregnant who do not want abortions. That is a lot of women.

[him] thinks that this formulation should not be sent to medics in Karen State or the Irrawaddy Delta by Health Partners International of Canada  http://www.hpicanada.ca/news_release.cfm?nwsrlsID=125

Care must be taken to supply essential and safe medications for the conditions that medics meet. Not any medications that the rich world wants to donate.

[him] moderator

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Attention Business/Financial/Health/Philanthropy Editors: $2.2 million of Pfizer's medicines donated to China, Burma, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe

PFIZER CANADA WORKS WITH HEALTH PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL OF CANADA TO PROVIDE URGENTLY NEEDED MEDICINES TO PEOPLE LIVING IN CRITICAL SITUATIONS

 KIRKLAND, QC, May 30 /CNW Telbec/ - With a donation of $2.2 million of anti-inflammatory ARTHROTEC(1) and anti-fungal DIFLUCAN(2), Pfizer Canada is joining forces with Health Partners International of Canada (HPIC) to support relief efforts in China, Burma (Myanmar), Afghanistan and Zimbabwe. These Pfizer medicines have been identified as much needed and reliable by HPIC. More than half of Pfizer's donated medicines will be provided to the Howard Hospital in rural Zimbabwe. Pfizer's anti-inflammatories will be included in the HPIC Physician Travel Packs to be carried by healthcare professionals on emergency relief missions to China, Burma and will also be delivered to the CURE Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. Pfizer Canada shipped these medicines to the HPIC distribution centre in Mississauga on May 16.

"Once again, Pfizer has responded quickly and generously to the needs of people suffering in the developing world. We deeply appreciate their most recent donation as we work together to bring healing and hope in the midst of some very devastating situations. We could not do our work without faithful partners like Pfizer Canada," says John Kelsall, President, Health Partners International of Canada. "We are proud to support these humanitarian efforts in China, Burma, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, by donating the requested quantities of Pfizer medicines. Pfizer Canada and HPIC share the same purpose: help out people in need and provide them with effective medicines," says John Helou, Vice President, Public Affairs and Stakeholder Relations at Pfizer Canada. "Once more our organization lives up to its guiding aspiration of 'Working together for a healthier world' through its long-term commitment to HPIC."

 Pfizer Canada - Among HPIC's top donors of medicines since 1994
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 Pfizer Canada has been supporting HPIC since 1994, donating a range of medicines, such as antibiotics, anti-fungals, anti-parasitics and pain relievers, worth more than $38 million. For most of the Canadian healthcare industry, HPIC is the preferred channel for providing medical aid to people living in impoverished countries. Pfizer Canada has contributed medicines to many of HPIC's major overseas humanitarian missions, including emergency responses to natural disasters and bulk shipments for on-the-ground partners, including organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nicaragua, Lebanon, Pakistan, Niger, Zimbabwe, Honduras, Uganda, Indonesia, Angola, China and Afghanistan. When the tsunami struck Southeast Asia in December 2004, Pfizer led an unprecedented industry response that resulted in a shipment to Sri Lanka, which was the largest in HPIC's history. Pfizer's commitment to HPIC supports the organization's programs for physicians and dentists, disaster response and international health. Each Physician Travel Pack (PTP), a portable selection of basic medicines and supplies for use in the field, carried overseas by a Canadian medical professional or humanitarian volunteer contains Pfizer products.

 About Pfizer Canada
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 Pfizer Canada Inc. is the Canadian operation of Pfizer Inc, the world's leading pharmaceutical company. Pfizer discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines for humans and animals. Pfizer Inc invests more than US$7 billion annually in R&D to discover and develop innovative life-saving and life-enhancing medicines in a wide range of therapeutic areas, including arthritis, cardiovascular disease, endocrinology, HIV/AIDS, infectious disease, neurological disease, oncology, ophthalmology and smoking cessation. Pfizer Canada is one of the top investors in Canadian R&D, investing more than $130 million in 2006. Canadian headquarters of Pfizer Global Pharmaceuticals is in Kirkland, Quebec. As one of the top corporate charitable donors in Canada, Pfizer Canada is a proud member of Imagine Canada and its Caring Company program. In 2007, Pfizer Canada's Community Investment Program supported more than 1,400 non-profit organizations and projects across the country with a total investment exceeding $25 million. For more information, visit www.pfizer.ca.

 (1) (R) G.D. Searle LLC, owner / Pfizer Canada Inc., Licensee (2) (R) Pfizer Products Inc., owner / Pfizer Canada Inc., Licensee

For further information: Sylvie Tessier, Pfizer Canada Inc, (514) 693-4609, sylvie.tessier@pfizer.com

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/May2008/30/c6328.html