"Who are you?" Xia Yiting asked, approaching the group of people who had suddenly entered the room while she was pouring water for patients and their families.
"I am Zhang Degui, Vice President of Chang Teng Pharmaceutical's South China region," the middle-aged man said with a faint smile, introducing himself to Xia Yiting.
"Chang Teng Pharmaceutical?" Xia Yiting frowned slightly.
She knew that Chang Teng Pharmaceutical was the company that produced the special medicine these patients had been using. She couldn't understand why these people were here.
"Chang Teng Pharmaceutical? What are you doing here?!"
"You said you have good news? For us, the best news is to stay away from you blood-sucking leeches!"
"Yes, staying away from you beasts is the best news for us!"
Before Xia Yiting could ask, the surrounding patients' families erupted in angry shouts.
Zhang Degui seemed unfazed by the scene. "Please, everyone, quiet down and let me finish. Do you really want to watch your children die from their illness?"
His words silenced the room.
However, the gazes directed at Zhang Degui were still filled with resentment. After all, this pharmaceutical company had brought most of their families to the brink of ruin.
Seeing the room quiet, Zhang Degui's lips curved into a subtle smile. "I am here today because I understand your demands. I have conveyed them to the company, and they have sent me to help you resolve your difficulties."
"I know that the recent price increase for the medicine might be unacceptable to many of you. But you must understand that our research and development costs are very high. If the company goes bankrupt due to insufficient funds, your children will have no hope. So, is that the outcome you wish to see?"
A middle-aged man stepped forward. "Stop spewing nonsense. The price has gone from 100,000 yuan per box to 700,000 yuan. And this medicine has been on the market for years, how can there still be R&D costs?"
"Exactly! I also heard from a friend that in other countries, similar medicine costs only a few hundred yuan per box. You people will do anything for money, you are utterly heartless!"
Zhang Degui responded, "That is abroad. You must know that illegally bringing foreign medicine back is a crime! As for the R&D costs I mentioned, it is for our pharmaceutical company's research to find a complete cure for this disease. We can guarantee that if we develop a drug that can cure this disease, its price will be very affordable!"
Hearing Zhang Degui's words, many of the patients' families looked astonished.
A woman asked anxiously, "Are you saying your pharmaceutical company is developing a cure for this disease? Is there hope for my child's condition to be cured?"
All eyes turned to Zhang Degui with anticipation.
Zhang Degui nodded. "Indeed. Our Chang Teng Pharmaceutical is very renowned. For this special medicine, only Chang Teng can develop it; no other company possesses this technology. Do you still not believe in the strength of Chang Teng Pharmaceutical?"
The crowd fell silent.
Who wouldn't want their child's illness to be cured? Without the special medicine, their children's spinal muscular atrophy would only worsen, leading to death. This was certainly not what they wished for.
Even coming to Longgang Hospital was a last resort.
If the esteemed Expert Chen could not treat this disease, they would likely have to return to purchasing that exorbitant medicine.
"But, but your price increase is too much. From 100,000 to 700,000, many of our families simply cannot afford it!"
"At 100,000 yuan per box, my family has borrowed all the money we could, and even sold a house. At this price, how can we afford it!"
"One box a month, 100,000 yuan per box, that's 1.2 million a year! Now it's increased to 700,000, which is 8.4 million a year. Even if you kill me, I can't come up with that much money!"
Many families wore bitter expressions. Eight million a year, what ordinary family here could afford that?
This was pushing them to their deaths!
Many families hugged their children, their hearts filled with sadness.
Zhang Degui smiled slyly. "That's why I said I'm here today to bring you good news."
The crowd turned their attention back to Zhang Degui, awaiting his next words.
Zhang Degui said, "It's like this. The company knows that everyone is dissatisfied with the price. So, today I've been sent to announce two support programs from the company."
"Firstly, we will sign long-term treatment agreements with you. If you sign these agreements, you will receive a 30% discount, and when our new drug is developed, it will be provided to patients for free."
Although the first piece of news was good, a 30% discount still meant 490,000 yuan, which most families still couldn't afford.
"Mr. Zhang, could you perhaps lower it further? Even with a 30% discount, it's over 400,000, and we still can't afford it!"
Everyone nodded in agreement. Over 400,000 yuan a year was nearly six million! For an ordinary family, this was simply an astronomical figure.
Zhang Degui waved his hand. "Please don't rush. Don't I have a second piece of good news?"
He smiled and continued, "The second piece of good news is that Chang Teng Pharmaceutical has established a loan installment service, akin to a public welfare initiative."
"For each box of medicine, you only need to pay a 10% down payment to purchase it."
"Do the math, what is 10% of the down payment for a box of medicine? That's 49,000 yuan. The remaining 90% can be paid in installments, with a maximum term of 10 years, and an interest rate of only 0.2%. Isn't that very favorable?"
"This means that for a box of medicine, you only need to repay over 4,000 yuan per month, including principal and interest. Doesn't this solve a significant financial problem for you?"
A middle-aged man stepped forward. "But we still have to repay this money? It means it's effectively more expensive."
"Exactly, this is just a way of charging us more money in interest!"
Zhang Degui smiled. "But you must understand that this is your most effective option right now. Without these two preferential policies from our company, your children will surely die."
"Moreover, this is the greatest concession our company can make. These losses are all borne by our company!"
Zhang Degui spoke with great distress.
"Buying a box of medicine for over 40,000 yuan is actually acceptable."
"But we still have to deal with interest and loans!"
"It's still better than the child having no medicine!"
Quite a few families began to discuss amongst themselves.
Seeing this, Zhang Degui's lips curved into a smug smile once more.
"Who told you their children are bound to die?" However, just as the room was filled with murmurs and people were weighing the pros and cons, a voice suddenly echoed from outside the door.