REQUEST FOR DRUGS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28661, 11 August 1958, Page 7

REQUEST FOR DRUGS

Letters From Iron Cui’tain Countries

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, August 10, A woman living in Poland has sent a request for medical help to one of the senior staff of an Auckland hospital. In a letter written in awkward English, she asks for two expensive drugs—one of them a tranquiliser— for her sick mother.

It is believed that similar letters from Iron Curtain countries asking for drugs have been received by medical men in Auckland before. The requests are regarded with suspicion in some quarters, where it—is believed that the letters could be the work of black market operators. Dr. A. W. S. Thompson, Director of the Division of ClinicalServices, a former Medical Officer of Health at Auckland, said he could remember quite a number of instances of persons bringing him letters they had received from Iron Curtain countries asking for medicines. He considered they were genuine and very touching. “We used to fix them up if we c6uld,” he said.

One public health official said that any drugs sent in reply to a letter from Europe - would certainly not be paid for out of the public purse. Another public health official said that sometimes Auckland residents who had relatives behind the Iron Curtain had re-

ceived letters asking for medical help. Where the transaction was made through a doctor in Europe they were able to get special permits to send drugs out of the country. He said it was too dangerous to send drugs to a. lay person on request.