Need for action

Whatever happened to the investigations on the alleged questionable activities of a pharmaceutical company and a number of medical professionals in the marketing and selling of its products by paying hefty commissions to doctors who prescribe them to their patients?

- MARY ANN LL. REYES

Last year, the Senate committee on health conducted hearings into accusations hurled towards Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc., including the giving of luxury gifts and huge commissions to doctors who prescribed the company's medicine and who were part of a multi-level marketing (MLM) program of Bell-Kenz.

During one hearing, Bell Kenz chairperson and CEO Luis Go stressed that they were a law-abiding pharmaceutical entity and adhered to all government regulations and the company was the victim of misinformation propagated through social media.

Go, however, admitted that Bell Kenz gave incentives and support to doctors through medical education locally and abroad and even medical equipment. He clarified that the incentives were part of ongoing medical education and support for doctors, denying giving cash or luxury cars.

He added that Bell-Kenz's medicines are 30 percent cheaper and end-users prefer their products and consequently, the shares of multinational companies' leading brands were being devoured.

Sen. Bong Go who chaired the committee back then said that they were alarmed by reports involving a pharmaceutical company which was allegedly engaged in marketing operations where favored doctors, some of them said to be owning shares in the company, prescribe and aggressively encourage patients to buy prescription medicines distributed by Bell Kenz.

Meanwhile, according to Sen. JV Ejercito, health committee vice-chair, physicians who helped Bell-Kenz sell vitamins and medicines to patients suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular problems and other lifestyle diseases were lavishly rewarded with high-end cars, foreign trips and luxury watches.