Doctors engaging in multi-level marketing schemes to face charges — DOH
Doctors engaging in multi-level marketing schemes to face charges — DOH
MANILA, Philippines — Apart from the revocation of their licenses, medical experts confirmed to be engaging in multi-level marketing schemes with pharmaceutical companies may also face charges according to Health Secretary Ted Herbosa.
During the Senate panel on health and demography’s hearing on Monday, Herbosa was questioned as to what would happen to physicians proven to be guilty of conniving with pharmaceutical companies in terms of prescribing medicines to patients.
READ: Tulfo wants ban, recall of ‘ineffective’ generic medicines
“Number one, we can file charges. Kasi kapag nakita yung… kahit ethical [ay] pwede pong iakyat ‘yan sa Board of Medicine for revocation of license, suspension of license. Kung sa hospital namin — Department of Health (DOH) hospital – pwede kong iakyat sa Ombudsman for cases against these public officials,” said Herbosa.
(Number one we can file charges. Even if its an ethical offense, we can raise it to the Board of Medicine for revocation of license [or] suspension of license. If they are from a DOH hospital, we can raise a chase against these public officials to the Ombudsman.)
Under the 2019 Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession, physicians are strongly tasked not to take advantage of the health product industry, nor should they allow themselves to be exploited in this relationship.
READ: Doctors accepting gifts from drug firms may be suspended, lose license
It also states that physicians should not solicit favors from the biopharmaceutical and medical device companies for personal interest or gain.
In the same hearing, Senator Raffy Tulfo presented a list of physicians allegedly working with Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc. in what he alleges to be a “multi-level marketing scheme.”
These physicians supposedly “receive” luxury items and extravagant trips in exchange for prescribing the firm’s medicines.
Earlier, the DOH said the agency is now investigating reports that some physicians are committing such practices.