Sandoz Gold Award for 3 physicians

Sandoz Gold Award was conferred on three renowned physicians yesterday for their outstanding contributions to health sector.
The recipients are late Dr Mohammad Ibrahim, founder of Birdem (Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders), National Professor MR Khan and National Professor Brig (retd) Abdul Malik.
Managing Director of Novertis (Bangladesh) Limited and Head of Sandoz Ashfaque ur Rahman handed over the award to the awardees and their representative at a symposium at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the city.
At the symposium organised by Novertis, findings of a clinical trial titled 'Azithromycin versus Ciprofloxacin for the treatment of Uncomplicated Enteric Fever in a Randomized Trial in Bangladesh' was also disseminated.
The study was done at the Chittagong Medical College and Hospital and at the private chamber of the investigators in the port city.
From the trial it was found that azithromycin is equally effective like ciprofloxacin for the treatment of uncomplicated typhoid fever in adults, said the experts.
Of the newer alternative drugs, azithromycin offers an easy treatment of typhoid fever, they added.
The antibiotic is also used for the treatment of upper respiratory track infection, skin and soft tissue infection.
Dr Mohammad Mahtab Uddin Hassan and Prof Mohammad Redwanur Rahman delivered the keynote speeches at the symposium which was attended by around 800 medical professionals.
Prof Mohammad Hanif, head of the paediatrics department at Bangladesh Institute of Child Health, Prof Mohammad Mostafizur Rahman, director of the National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital, Prof AZM Maidul Islam, chairman of the dermatology and venerology department at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Prof M Alauddin, chairman of otolaryngology department at BSMMU, Prof AKM Rafique Uddin of medicine department at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital, and Prof Latifa Shamsuddin were present at the symposium as panelists.