He emphasised that consistency of policy was a key to enhancing the inflow of foreign investment in the pharmaceutical sector, saying that his company was seeking partnership to build infrastructure for diabetic patients in Pakistan.
BR: How do Danish investors view Pakistan?
JH: The business community of my country considers Pakistan an insecure country where law and order situation is deteriorating. They watch foreign media which only highlights negative aspects about your country. My perception about Pakistan changed after my visit. I find Pakistan rather a beautiful country and the people here are loving and energetic.
BR: Are our policies attractive to multinational companies?
JH: Patent rules in Pakistan are considerably more relaxed than in India. Speaking for my sector, I would add that in my view the policies of Pakistan government with respect to the pharmaceutical sector had not been consistent. This accounts for several Pakistanis opting to invest in say Denmark rather in their homeland where they have more advantages than abroad.
BR: What are your future plans in Pakistan?
JH: We are going to set-up Center Medical Research (CMR) institute in Pakistan, which would provide education to medical physicians and students and later we are looking at expanding our medical team in the country.
We intend to reach every segment of the Pakistani society. For this, we are looking at public-private partnership. The company has already launched several successful public-private partnership projects in different parts of the world, including Bangladesh. Bangladesh is poorer than Pakistan and hence the company's expectation is higher regarding the success of such projects in Pakistan, if launched.
BR: Any contacts with Pakistani politicians during your visit?
JH: I have held no meeting with any politician during my current visit to Pakistan but wish to share our experience and information with parliamentarians and other influential segments of the society. We believe sharing information with influential people in the country could assist the government to develop a comprehensive strategy to tackle diabetes and we want to conduct clinical trial in Pakistani in this regard.
BR: How is Pakistan tackling diabetes?
JH: According to an estimate, one out of every six adults is diabetic in Pakistan and the majority of patients are neither diagnosed nor aware of the gradual onslaught of the disease given that symptoms appear over a period of time.
Pakistan has yet to setup a national diabetic programme and Novo Nordisk is looking forward to working with the government in this regard. I am ready to assist the government in the development of infrastructure for diabetics but government and doctors' engagement can make a big difference.
BR: What are the causes of diabetes?
JH: Use of fatty foods and lack of exercise is the main reason for the spread of diabetes in Pakistan. It is characterised by partial or complete lack of insulin production in the body. The most common forms of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and in both types, people have little or no ability to move sugar out of the blood stream and into the cells where it is used as the body's primary fuel.
BR: What is DAWN Programme?
JH: The Diabetes Attitudes, Wishes, and Needs (DAWN) programme has been launched in 18 countries and has reached around 10,000 diabetics. The programme's objective is to highlight the suffering of a family with one member suffering from diabetes. There are 60 percent chances that the disease could be transferred to the next generation if one parent is diabetic.
BR: Is this your first visit to Pakistan?
JH: Yes, as the one responsible for Novo Nordisk's international operations I have the responsibility to look after 148 countries. I have personally visited different hospitals in Islamabad and launched diabetic awareness campaigns.
BR: You company also provides treatment for Haemostasis/Haemophilia?
JH: Yes, but thankfully the number of patients is not large.