Leachon hits drug firms offering perks to doctors

Health expert and advocate Dr. Tony Leachon

HEALTH expert and advocate Dr. Tony Leachon called for a congressional inquiry into what he said was the practice of pharmaceutical companies to offer financial incentives to doctors to prescribe their medicines.

Leachon said the unethical practice is “worse than Pharmally,” referring to the drug company involved in a scandal for allegedly overpricing the products it sold to the government as part of its Covid-19 response.

Leachon made the call on his social media account, as he also urged the Philippine Medical Association to do its own probe.

He said the incident violates medical ethics and Professional Regulation Commission rules on “conflict of interest.”

“This is really, really unacceptable. This is abominable. This is repulsive. This is highly irregular, highly irresponsible. This is highly criminal,” Leachon said.

He refused to name the companies involved, saying they would be properly identified during an inquiry.

He said the perks pharmaceutical firms give include paid international travel and even cars.

“This is worse than Pharmally because doctors involved are shoving these drugs and products down patient’s throats. Kalusugan ng tao ang kawawa dito (The people’s health is at risk here),” Leachon posted on X.

The victims could even die of wrongly prescribed medicines, he warned. The people behind this must be prosecuted, he said.