Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc. Exec Appears Before Senate Probe
MANILA, Philippines — Luis Raymond Go, chairperson and chief executive officer of the controversial Bell Kenz-Pharma Inc., personally appeared before the Senate on Tuesday.
This, as the chamber begins its probe on the alleged collusion between doctors and pharmaceutical firms in prescribing medicines.
Senators JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, and Raffy Tulfo previously raised their concerns on the issue, reiterating that the alleged scheme not only “hurts the credibility and integrity of the medical profession” but it also “undermines public trust in healthcare.”
Ejercito said he was made aware of the controversy about two to three months ago when he was approached by some pharmaceutical companies and “some whistleblowers.”
“We will look into it kung talagang may violation sa ethical standards of medical practices at ‘yun nga, ‘yung conflict kasi nga po kung ikaw pasyente, kung ano ang prescribed ng doctor syempre susunod ka eh. Lalo na sa probinsya,” said Ejercito then.
Estrada, on the other hand, said medical practitioners “conniving” with pharmaceutical firms allegedly receive at least eight percent of rebates, amounting to around P2 million, based on their monthly productivity.
This, on top of luxury trips and items that they receive when their “quotas” are met.
Prior to Ejercito and Estrada’s exposé, Tulfo already disclosed that some physicians are enjoying pharmaceutical-sponsored junkets, alleging that these illegal and controversial schemes are the reason why branded medicines are mostly being prescribed by physicians.
Bell-Kenz earlier denied what it called “misinformed” and “unfounded” allegations against their firm.
