Poggiolini Barred From Operation Abroad

4 June 1995

Duilio Poggiolini, the former director general of the Italian Ministry of Health and president of the European Union Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products, wants to visit an ophthalmic specialist in France or the USA for a cataract operation on his left eye, but the Italian authorities have declined to let him have his passport.

Prof Poggiolini, one of hundreds of leading Italians being investigation under the corruption scandals, told the Naples judiciary that his right eye is atrophied, and the cataract means that he is almost blind, and he wants to consult an international specialist in France or the USA. The judges' response has been that he can get adequate therapeutic assistance from the health service which he ran for 20 years.

His lawyer, Vincenzo Siniscalchi, says he will appeal, although Prof Poggiolini has already consulted doctors at the Aquila hospital, and eye specialists Andrea Planner and Giancarlo Falcinelli in Rome. Prof Falcinelli says it is not generally necessary these days to go abroad to have a cataract removed. "It can be done effectively and well in Italy," he says.

This article is accessible to registered users, to continue reading please register for free.  A free trial will give you access to exclusive features, interviews, round-ups and commentary from the sharpest minds in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology space for a week. If you are already a registered user please login. If your trial has come to an end, you can subscribe here.

Login to your account

Become a subscriber

 

£820

Or £77 per month

Subscribe Now
  • Unfettered access to industry-leading news, commentary and analysis in pharma and biotech.
  • Updates from clinical trials, conferences, M&A, licensing, financing, regulation, patents & legal, executive appointments, commercial strategy and financial results.
  • Daily roundup of key events in pharma and biotech.
  • Monthly in-depth briefings on Boardroom appointments and M&A news.
  • Choose from a cost-effective annual package or a flexible monthly subscription
The Pharma Letter is an extremely useful and valuable Life Sciences service that brings together a daily update on performance people and products. It’s part of the key information for keeping me informed

Chairman, Sanofi Aventis UK





Today's issue

Company Spotlight