Following an expose by a news columnist about the operation of a pharmaceutical company that entices doctors to push its products through prescriptions in exchange for plane tickets, cash and other luxury items, Senator JV. Ejercito has named the company, which he describes as worse than the “Pharmally scandal.”
Ejercito said Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc., apparently the subject of Philippine STAR columnist Alex Magno’s April 20 column, is reportedly giving plane tickets and luxury cars and watches to doctors who meet their quota of prescribing the medicines manufactured by the firm, political website Politiko reported today.
“I was approached already by some pharmaceutical companies and some whistleblowers some two to three months ago. I heard this practice concerning the Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc., wherein the shareholders are doctors, and they import quality drugs for hypertension, diabetes, and others,” Ejercito said during a briefing at the Senate on Wednesday, April 24.
“The only problem is that, there seems to be a conflict of interest and a breach of ethical standards, because ang complaint of whistleblowers involves doctors (who are) marketing or prescribing the drugs or medicines imported by their own company,” he added.
Expensive gifts
Ejercito said he would soon file a resolution investigating the alleged anomalous modus of the pharmaceutical firm gifting doctors with luxury cars and gifts to prescribe their medicines even though their patients may not even need it for their ailments.
“Parang naging networking or pyramiding, in a way. We have to investigate why this has been going on. Matagal na yung company. Lumakas ito during the pandemic,” Ejercito said.
Ejercito, who authored the Universal Health Care law, said such practices only add to the medical bills of patients.
“If there are doctors indeed prescribing medicines or supplements that we don’t really need, then nakakadagdag ito sa out-of-the- pocket expenses. I think they are more active in the provinces than in Metro Manila,” Ejercito said.
“So we really have to look into this. Again, we do not want unnecessary extra expenses for ordinary Filipinos, especially those in the provinces,” he added.
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #JVEjercitoEstrada #Pharmallyscandal #BellKenzPharmaInc