HEALTH Secretary Teodoro Herbosa on Tuesday claimed innocence of the alleged multi-level marketing schemes in the medical industry, but admitted awareness of the perks being given to doctors by pharmaceutical firms.
Herbosa made the admission during the first hearing of the Senate Committee on Health about the reported “prescription-for-sale” by some doctors in exchange for luxury gifts like Rolex watches and Lexus cars on top of hefty amount of money as share from earnings of a drug firm,
He said he was only aware of foreign trips and meals in expensive restaurants sponsored by drug companies.
Senator Raffy Tulfo who earlier grilled Herbosa on the same issue, confronted the Health chief on the alleged pyramiding in which doctors were recruited under their program to prescribe the products of their drug firm.
“But this scheme wherein prescription is counted, and quota is made, the multi-level marketing, I just learned it now,” Herbosa said.
Dr. Luis Go, chief executive officer of Bell-Kenz Pharma, belied allegations that his company is a multi-level marketing firm, adding that their medicines were being sold at lower cost compared to other brands.
He asserted that Bell-Kenz medicines enable patients to save about P128 per day equivalent to P27,000 to P55,000 per year depending on the brand.
“The Bell-Kenz board is a collective of medical doctors that are dedicated to give affordable public health care. The ethos of the company is patient-centered care. We want to ensure transparency,” said Go, a cardiologist.
He also told the Senate panel chaired by Senator Christopher Go that they give doctors commissions in the form of cash or high-end cars and other luxury gifts, but not Rolex and Lexus in exchange for prescribing Bell-Kenz medicines.
He lamented they have been a victim of misinformation and negative propaganda over the past several days.
“I am here to refute the baseless allegation. I unequivocally state that Bell-Kenz is a law-abiding company adhering to the rules of the Food and Drug Administration, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Philippine Medical Association, and other relevant governing bodies,” he added.
Go said Bell-Kenz products include medicines for hypertension and diabetes.
Shown a Bell-Kenz check paid to a doctor, Go clarified that the check was not a commission or an incentive, but a discount for prompt payment of ordered medicines for the said doctor who also owns several pharmacies.
He also clarified that the Mercedes Benz raised by the senators as proof of incentive or commission to a doctor who buys from Bell-Kenz was bought from the company.