Ex-RICH-VICKS PRESIDENT BERGMAN TO HEAD COUNCIL ON FAMILY HEALTH

Ex-RICH-VICKS PRESIDENT BERGMAN TO HEAD COUNCIL ON FAMILY HEALTH, assuming the presidency of the non-profit organization at the end of June. In early May, William Bergman announced his retirement from Rich-Vicks as of June 30. During the last five years, Bergman has been the top Rich-Vicks exec in the merging of that business into Procter & Gamble. After his retirement this spring, P&G announced a major series of management and organizational moves to meld the different sections of Rich-Vicks into similar P&G businesses ("The Pink Sheet" May 14, p. 16). At the Council on Family Health, Bergman succeeds Frazier Cheston, the former SmithKline exec who is retiring after 14 years. Bergman previously has been chairman of the council's board. Ex-FDA Commissioner Arthur Hull Hayes will now fill the chairmanship position. Hayes has been heading an effort by the German pharmaceutical firm E. Merck to set up a direct presence in the U.S. for the past four years. E. Merck recently announced that it is winding down that effort and will phase out the U.S. subsidiary by the end of this year ("The Pink Sheet" July 9,p. 2). The Council on Family Health sponsors educational efforts on the appropriate use of medications. Among its recent efforts are a video news release "distributed via satellite to over 700 TV stations" on travel and medication and a cooperative effort with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association and the National Council on Aging to prepare a booklet for senior citizens on management of medications. A similar brochure is being prepared in conjunction with the Nonprescription Drug Manufacturers Association. With the American Medical Association, the council is preparing to reissue a pamphlet on reading OTC drug labels.