The moment the call connected, Feng Weiguo's trembling voice, filled with excitement, came through the receiver.
"Leader, Jing Mingqiu has given me the production process for the cry-type battery. And he's also developed limb regeneration technology!"
The highest leader was surprised at first, then fell into ecstasy.
"That's wonderful. I was just thinking about how to deal with the West's blockade in medicine. Jing Mingqiu's invention is truly a timely gift."
It was no wonder the highest leader was so agitated. The actions of Western countries had been truly disgusting this time.
They first produced two patients who claimed that after using Dragon Country's ligament repair agent, they experienced severe side effects and became paralyzed.
Then, through various media outlets and those public intellectuals they had bought over, they engaged in rampant fabrication and slandered the two agents invented by Jing Mingqiu.
Dragon Country had a contingency plan for this and managed to withstand the surging tide of public opinion, but the sales of these two agents still experienced a considerable decline.
Even then, Western countries were not willing to stop. They joined forces with many large pharmaceutical companies and significantly increased the prices of over a thousand types of special medicines sold to Dragon Country.
Due to the wars and plunder seventy years ago, Dragon Country had lost a vast amount of medical knowledge and many excellent doctors.
Although they made strenuous efforts to catch up after the founding of the nation, the gap was too large. Coupled with the West's first-mover advantage, for difficult diseases like cancer and leukemia, most Dragon Country doctors were helpless and could only purchase expensive special medicines from the West to help prolong the lives of patients.
The West had thus plundered vast sums of money to continue their research and maintain their technological advantage.
Whether it was to increase flexibility, repair ligaments, or reduce muscle stiffness, these were all just improvements and enhancements. Without them, one could grit their teeth and endure.
But cancer and leukemia were life-threatening and could not be managed without medication for even a day.
However, limb regeneration was different. With this, they would have leverage for negotiations with the West.
After repeatedly giving instructions, Feng Weiguo rushed to deliver the USB drive. The highest leader took out his phone, preparing to contact Jiang Feizhang, the Minister of the Dragon Country Ministry of Health.
At this time, Jiang Feizhang was engaged in a heated discussion with the medical representative of Beautiful Country regarding a special medicine for leukemia.
"This price is too high. Twelve thousand per injection, our patients cannot afford it. If I remember correctly, this medicine only sells for two hundred US dollars in Beautiful Country, which is about one thousand two hundred in Dragon Country currency. The same medicine is sold at ten times the price; we cannot accept this!"
The medical representative of Beautiful Country picked at his fingers, nonchalantly saying, "This is already our lowest price, considering tariffs, shipping fees, and promotional costs. Twelve thousand per injection is really not expensive."
"If that's the case," Jiang Feizhang took a deep breath and made the greatest concession within his authority. "If we reduce tariffs, arrange for dedicated personnel for transportation, and include this medicine in our medical insurance, and help you reduce promotional costs, can the price be lowered to match the domestic price in Beautiful Country?"
The medical representative of Beautiful Country showed a flicker of hesitation, "This..."
Jiang Feizhang, seizing the moment, pressed on. "Dragon Country has 1.4 billion people and a huge market. Once included in medical insurance, we will purchase in large quantities. As long as you are willing to lower the price, we can sign a ten-billion-dollar order right now."
It had to be said, pharmaceuticals were incredibly profitable. Ten billion sounded like a lot, but even at the Beautiful Country price of two hundred dollars per injection, it was only five million doses.
The average course of treatment required ten to twelve injections, and treating leukemia generally required three to five courses.
Five hundred thousand doses, at most, could treat only 160,000 people, and at least only 80,000.
Dragon Country added over 40,000 new leukemia patients annually. Coupled with the existing over 4 million leukemia patients, this ten-billion-dollar special medicine was a mere drop in the bucket.
"Ten billion US dollars is too little," the medical representative of Beautiful Country waved his hand. "A hundred-billion-dollar order, at eleven thousand per injection, if you agree, we can sign the agreement."
Jiang Feizhang suddenly stood up. "Ten thousand is too expensive. At this price, one course of treatment would cost at least twelve thousand, and five courses would be sixty thousand. This amount is enough to empty a family's entire savings."
"Beautiful Country representative, I need to remind you that our country's pharmaceutical companies are now researching similar drugs. You know our country's habit; once research is successful, the price of this drug will truly become like cabbage, and then it won't even sell for one hundred and twenty, let alone twelve hundred."
"Dragon Country is indeed adept at turning something originally high-profit into a bargain price. However," the Beautiful Country medical representative also stood up, "drug research has a cycle. By the time you finish your research and go through Phase I, II, and III clinical trials, we will have already launched new special drugs."
"Do you think those patients will use the special drugs we just researched, which are more effective and have fewer side effects, or your outdated old drugs? I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first."
"Minister Jiang, please think carefully. Don't let millions of leukemia patients suffer innocently for your pride."
With that, the Beautiful Country medical representative swaggered away.
Staring at his arrogant retreating back, Jiang Feizhang sank back into his chair, his face instantly darkening.
His assistant saw the scene and quickly came over to comfort him, "Minister, are you alright? That guy's words were so infuriating."
"I'm fine," Jiang Feizhang waved his hand weakly. "Xiao Zhao, when will our country's pharmaceutical companies be able to research this drug? Can we set an accurate timeline?"
Assistant Zhao sighed, "It's very difficult! Our country's pharmaceutical companies have a huge gap in both resources and talent compared to foreign companies. This drug took them nearly ten billion and ten years to research. Even if we only research generics, it will take a lot of time. How about we continue to import? Money can be earned again, but once a person is gone, they are truly gone!"
"But we can't continue like this," Jiang Feizhang's eyes widened in anger. "Our people are reluctant to eat and wear, and after working hard for most of their lives, they finally earn some money, only to lose it all to a serious illness, and even have to borrow money everywhere, burdening their families."
"The wealth painstakingly accumulated by the people over a lifetime is all earned by foreigners in the end. If this continues, our country's economy will collapse sooner or later. We must find a way to change this and accelerate drug research to gain drug sovereignty!"
The assistant sighed again, "But we are too far behind..." httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Just then, Jiang Feizhang's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the phone number, made a silencing gesture to his assistant, and his demeanor instantly turned serious.
"Highest Leader, hello, this is Jiang Feizhang. What are your instructions?"
...
Five minutes later, the call ended. Jiang Feizhang, his face beaming with excitement, shouted at his assistant, "A top genius has successfully conquered limb regeneration technology and needs my help to build a treatment chamber? You immediately contact Director Sun and clear out Laboratory A4."
"Yes," the assistant was equally excited. "But who is this top genius? Limb regeneration is a decades-old challenge!"
Jiang Feizhang shook his head vigorously. "The Highest Leader didn't say, but the only one who could achieve this is Professor Ding Jianbai, who left our country ten years ago to join the Beautiful Country National Biological Research Institute. He had long ago joined Beautiful Country nationality. We thought he had defected, but we never expected this to be just a cover. He still cares about his motherland!"
"I've said it before, Ding Jianbai doesn't look like the kind of person who is greedy for money and lustful. Minister Jiang, let's contact him quickly. Beautiful Country must be trying its best to prevent him from returning to our country now!"
"Okay!"
Jiang Feizhang took out his phone, scrolled to the end of his contacts, and called Ding Jianbai.
"Professor Ding, I know you are returning to our country for development. If you encounter any trouble on your journey, you can speak up at any time, and I will do my best to provide assistance..."