THE Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said it is set to investigate reports of pharmaceutical companies giving different perks and privileges to medical professionals in exchange for prescribing particular branded drug products.
In a televised public briefing, DOH spokesman Dr. Albert Domingo said the agency, along with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), are set to hold an investigation on the alleged malpractice.
“There is allegedly a company using multilevel marketing (scheme) to recruit doctors by giving them different incentives, gifts, rewards so that they will prescribe specific brands of medicines. We are still investigating what company this is,” said Domingo.
“The FDA – Field Regulatory Operations Office is assembling an investigation so that we can look at these alleged wrongdoings,” he added.
The health official said such acts are considered unlawful under the Generics Act of 1988.
“It is required under the Generics Act of 1988 for doctors to always prescribe drugs using generic names,” said Domingo, addingn that the act is also deemed as a violation of the Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession.
“Under the Medical Act, a doctor may lose his/her license when the Code of Ethics is violated,” he said.
Domingo urged the public to report such wrongdoings involving doctors and pharmaceutical companies. “We are looking into this. We are reaching out to the public to report to us if you have any information,” he said.
The DOH statement comes on the heels of reports that there are pharmaceutical companies that are giving privileges to medical professionals to entice them to advertise and prescribe medical products.
