EMBATTLED pharmaceutical firm Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc.yesterday said it is planning to sue critics who have been making baseless allegations and malicious posts online over its alleged participation in a multi-level marketing, or pyramiding, scheme supposedly involving doctors and other medical professionals.
In a media forum in Manila, Bell-Kenz spokesperson lawyer Dezery Perlez said the firm’s executives are now discussing the possibility of filing criminal charges against individuals, whom he refused to name for now, for tainting the integrity of the company and its officials, most of whom are doctors.
“We, at Bell-Kenz, are already discussing about this. We are preparing criminal actions against those posting online malicious accusations against Bell-Kenz and the doctors,” said Perlez, stressing: “They are throwing out malicious or baseless accusations.”
Perlez said the allegations have compromised the security of their client doctors because of the dissemination of their personal information, including vehicle details and images, on social media platforms. She said several doctors have also received threats to their lives because of the online attacks.
Perlez, however, refused to give additional details on their plans, saying they will just file the charges against such individuals.
Asked if they believe that there are other pharmaceutical firms behind the latest controversy, Perlez said it is a possibility.
“Bell-Kenz drug products are 30 percent cheaper and the patients really prefer (our) products. Consequently, it is eating up the share of leading brands of multinational companies. So maybe it has an effect,” she said.
The statement of Bell-Kenz comes on the heels of allegations that it is allegedly giving out luxurious incentives and perks to doctors in exchange for prescribing their medical brands to their patients.
The Senate Committee on Health has already conducted a hearing on the issue, during which Bell-Kenz said it was a “law-abiding pharmaceutical entity” and is compliant with all the legal and ethical requirements.
It likewise denied it was involved in a pyramiding scheme.
Bell-Kenz legal counsel Alex Avisado said they welcome such investigations and inquiries on the allegations against the firm.
“We welcome the investigation because that’s an opportunity for doctors to clear their names, and for Bell-Kenz to clear its name,” Avisado said.
For his part, Bell-Kenz chairperson and chief executive officer Dr. Luis Go said they are not against the Senate inquiry, especially if it is in aid of legislation.
