PENICILLIN PRODUCTION AND AVAILABILITY OF MEDICAMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00047R000100180007-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 17, 2009
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: January 19, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2009/07/17: CIA-RDP82-00047R000100180007-3
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/SECURITY INFO1 ILTION
COUNTRY Czechoslovakia
SUBJECT Penicillin Production and Availability
of Medicaments
NO, OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INIONYATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
01 THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEAHINU0I TITLE 18, ^ECTIONS 707
AND 701 01 THE U.S. COD[, AN AMENDED. ITS TRAM SMIE[IOM OR R[Y[?
LATIDN O1 ITS CONTENTS TO 0~1 R[C[IFT EY AN UNAUTHONIEED PERSON IS
?RONISITED NY-LAW. TM[ A[?ROOVCTION OF THIS TORN IS FRONTSITED.
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
25X1 ?
I /W
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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1. Recently the production of penicillin and sulfa drugs in Czechoslovakia has
greatly increased, These drugs are manufactured by the newly organized
national corporation "Biogena". In 1949 and even the beginning of 1950 this
plant, manufacturing antibiotics and sulfa drugs,, was a part of Statni Zdravotni
25X1
Political boss of Biogena is Dr Malek. Biogena has under its adminis-
tration several plants, the newest and biggest one, in Roztoky u Prahu, is the
sole producer of penicillin in Czechoslovakia,
2. In August 1951 it was decided to move the big Orion Chocolate Pent from Prague,
corner of Kurunni trid and Benesovska ulice, to modrany. (50.1 - 1L.25 E). t
release the premises to some new Bio ena Plant. 25X1
1 -7-
3, There is still a shortage of penicillin in Czechoslovakia, but it is sold on
doctorsu Drescriotions? and there is some extort to sate 11ite?oo1,ntri(25X1
too.
the Czech-penicillin
was of the same quality as the US penicillin and no more painful to inject. At
the same time theCz,ch-manufactured penicillin has to 25X1
be injected every few hours., since the so-called " n c l? US new
tyDe) is not
yet manufactured In Czenh 25X1
CLASSIFICATION SECRET/SECURITY INFORNA'.ION
IN No. 51-40
1 1951
INFORMATION REP
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGEN E
DISTRIBUTION
F C
Approved For Release 2009/07/17: CIA-RDP82-00047R000100180007-3
 Approved For Release 2009/07/17: CIA-RDP82-00047R000100180007-3
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
It` is very difficult at the present time to get medicaments in
Czech pharmacies; it is even hard to obtain most common drags,
like aspirin. It is almost impossible to get glycerin. It tight
be true that under the.: promulgated national insurance act the
vast majority of -~tha ,eeRz. population is theoretically given
free medicaments when sick, out the doctors have strict orders
tip prescribe medicaments onl in the smallest quantities and in
urgently needy cases. since the national insurax}ce
atct ventrinto effect,-the scarcity of medicaments has. been caused
bey the shortages of raw materials, for their production, and rather,
4xteiasive hoarding tendencies. $treaptomycin is unobtainable fmr
individuals and is used only in sanatoriums. It is administered
,td De&Dle
der years of age as a last resort only,
in some .az&torinms streptomycin is extracted from
the urine of patients it has been administered to, and used again
for other patients.
-end---
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
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lox]
Approved For Release 2009/07/17: CIA-RDP82-00047R000100180007-3