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20240426-senate-hearing-dengvaxia-leachon-JC-6037

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Arra Perez

ABS-CBN News

<div></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/171413448488420240426-senate-hearing-dengvaxia-leachon-JC-6037.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Health advocate Dr. Anthony Leachon says according to " some="" doctors="" get="" money="" and="" luxury="" items="" in="" exchange="" of="" prescribing="" a="" particular="" brand="" name.="" Jonathan="" ABS-CBN="" News=""/>Health advocate Dr. Anthony Leachon says according to &quot;whistleblowers&quot;, some doctors get money and luxury items in exchange of prescribing a particular brand name.  Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/file(UPDATED) The Department of Health (DOH) is acting on reports about an alleged multi-level marketing or pyramiding scheme where some doctors are involved.</div>Health advocate Dr. Tony Leachon has revealed that according to &quot;whistleblowers&quot;, some doctors get money and luxury items in exchange of prescribing a particular brand name.<div>HOW THE SCHEME WORKS</div>Leachon is concerned with what he dubbed as the &quot;greatest medical corruption in modern times sa Philippine history&quot;.&quot;Nagpadala sa atin na mensahe eh binibigyan nila [iyong mga doktor] ng Lexus, may Mercedes Benz pa, may mga Rolex, at marami pang iba. May mga tseke pa nga pinadala,&quot; he told ABS-CBN News.&quot;Ang masama dito iyong mga doktor na nare-recruit according to the scheme ay nagre-recruit pa at nabibigyan ng komisyon... so vinalidate ko whether this is actually in existence, so i called up some friends na doktor in Northern Luzon, one in Pangasinan, one in Baguio, one in Visayas, and one in Mindanao at ganoon nga, at isa sa Nueva Ecija,&quot; he added.Leachon said different styles are being employed by the doctors involved, who apparently put business first instead of their patients.&quot;Ayon sa aking mga sources na kapwa doktor ay maaaring generic din pero sina-substitute iyong brand name ng kanilang kompanya... Iyong iba naman, sinusulat na mismo noong doktor na nakausap ng kompanya, deretso na generic plus iyong branded name ng produktong kanilang binebenta,&quot; he said.&quot;Iyong ibang doktor ay may pharmacist at sasabihin doon sa mga pasyente, &#x27;Doon ka bibili lang ha, doon sa pharmacy na iyon.&#x27; Ngayon magugulat ka, ang laman noong pharmacy na iyon karamihan, iyong produktong pino-post nitong drug company na ito,&quot; he added.Those who are in the system supposedly have a quota - and receive lavish incentives if they are considered top performers.&quot;They have quotas and those doctors who are considered top performs receive lavish incentives such as all-expense paid trips, luxury cars, and sum of money. Their program is akin to a pyramid scheme,&quot; Leachon stated in his executive briefer.<div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/4/2/tulfo-herbosa-argue-over-branded-medicines-in-hospitals-1622" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Tulfo, Herbosa argue over branded medicines in hospitals</a></div>Leachon admitted he is disturbed by the issue.&quot;When they use their profession for business purposes and personal gain, ang impact nito masama.  There will be degradation of the moral values of physician, both young and old... Paano mo ngayon ma-inspire ang younger Filipinos to become doctors to become noble in their profession?&quot; he said.&quot;Merong code of ethics ang mga doktor, may code of ethics din ang relationship ng pharmaceutical industry,&quot; he added.<div>PATIENTS&#x27; CHOICE</div>The DOH is acting on the issue, while following due process.&quot;Nag-review na kami kung ano ba iyong mga batas... Iyong Philippine Medical Act... Meron tayong Code of Ethics of the Medical Profession of the Philippine Medical Association... Pag nilabag mo iyong code of ethics ng PMA, ang doktor ay pwedeng ma-reprimand, pwedeng ma-suspend ng lisensya o kaya pwedeng ma-revoke ang lisensya,&quot; DOH spokesperson Asec. Albert Domingo told ABS-CBN News.&quot;Hinahanap namin, tinrace back namin sa buong DOH, as of this date hindi pa kami tumitigil, pero iyong mga natanong namin sa office, hindi ma locate iyong complaint na iyon... Kung sino man po iyong nag-file ng complaint kahit anonymously paki padala na po sa amin,&quot; he added.Domingo said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has investigatory powers, Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) has a board of medicine, and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) may also be tapped, as a corporation is being tagged to the issue.Cases that may be filed include administrative - involving their license as doctors - criminal - if there is, say, estafa, or other cases - and civil - pertaining to damages.He said patients have the right to choose a brand name.&quot;Sa ating mga pasyente, hindi kayo dapat ipilit na bumili ng kahit na anong brand... Pag sinabi ng doktor na, &#x27;Iyan lang po [ang pwedeng gamot],&#x27; pwede na ho kayong mag report sa Food and Drug Administration... Pwede rin kayong sumangguni sa Philippine Medical Association... at ikatlo, sa Professional Regulation Commission Board of Medicine,&quot; Domingo said.&quot;Pwede silang (patient) mag-agree dun sa brand name na sinulat nung doktor or pwede silang magtanong sa isang drug store, isang parmasya, &#x27;Meron bang mas mura dito?&#x27; At tungkulin ng parmasya na sabihin kung ano iyong mga available sa kanilang stocks,&quot; he added.<div>SENATE PROBE</div>Sen. JV Ejercito has filed a resolution seeking to investigate the alleged collusion of some doctors and pharmaceutical companies.He earlier identified a firm allegedly involved as Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc. In a statement sent to ABS-CBN News, the company said they &quot;vehemently deny the misinformed and unfounded allegations leveled against our company&quot;.&quot;Our commitment to rectify these accusations in the right fora underscores our unwavering dedication to preserve the integrity of our company&#x27;s reputation,&quot; the company said. &quot;Since our inception, Bell Kenz has been steadfast in our pledge to serve all Filipinos. Our relentless pursuit to provide cost-effective medications underscores our commitment to ensuring equitable access to high-quality healthcare for all. Upholding the ethical standards of the local healthcare industry is paramount to us, and we wholeheartedly endorse endeavors aimed at upholding the sanctity of the medical healthcare system,&quot; it added.The firm said &quot;despite the hurdles we face, our determination remains unyielding&quot;.&quot;We remain steadfast in our mission to enhance the well-being of the Filipino community. Looking ahead, we will persist in prioritizing the needs of our patients and maintaining the trust bestowed upon us by our stakeholders,&quot; it added. <div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/23/22/marcos-very-keen-to-have-manufacturing-of-pharmaceutical-products-in-ph-indian-envoy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Marcos &#x27;very keen to see domestic manufacturing of pharmaceutical products&#x27;</a></div><div>&#x27;NOT NEW&#x27;</div>A pharmaceutical group, meanwhile, admitted the issue is not new.&quot;Itong isyu na ito is not new. I&#x27;ve heard of this, hindi pa ako pharmacist hanggang naging pharmacist at nagiging pharmacy leader. Ayaw na ayaw ko iyong ganoong klaseng practice,&quot; said Leonila Ocampo, Executive Committee Member-Community Pharmacy Section of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP).&quot;Gusto ko lang iparating sa ating mga kababayan na gumagamit ng gamot, si pharmacist po eh nandito para ma-i-guide kayo na ang paggamit ninyo ng gamot e may mangyaring tama... Ang gamot po ay gamot lang pag nagamit nang tama, pero lason po siya pag hindi ginamit nang tama,&quot; she added.Ocampo said pharmacists must always be ready to show the options of brand names to patients.&quot;It is supposed to be written in generic, and if the doctor would want the brand, it&#x27;s written in open-close parenthesis. [It] is a recommendation but that&#x27;s not mandatory that that brand is supposed to be what will be dispensed by the pharmacist... The pharmacist will have to offer to the patients a menu of brands from where the patient would choose,&quot; she explained.Ocampo shared she makes it a point to report to the PRC or the FDA if she personally experiences violations.<div>&#x27;MOST DOCTORS ARE GOOD&#x27;</div>The DOH and health advocates assured one thing: most of our doctors, pharmacists, and healthcare workers are ethical - and only a minority may be involved in the issue.&quot;Ang ginagawa po ng DOH ngayon ay naglilinis tayo ng mantsa. Ibig sabihin, hindi po natin nilalahat. Mas marami ang doktor, mas marami ang pharmacist ang tahimik na nagsisilbi... tinitingnan ang buhay ng pasyente... Ganito kami ka-gigil - sabihin na natin - na gigil DOH ang kasi hindi talaga acceptable... Ayusin natin ang ating ranggo,&quot; Domingo said.&quot;Ingat na ingat kami sa lisensya namin. At pinapaalala namin sa DOH, mga kapwa doktor, ingatan po natin iyong pinaghirapan natin. Nag-aral tayo ng katagal-tagal, dugo&#x27;t pawis ang pinasok natin dyan, gastos. Tapos para lang sa marketing, para lang sa kita ay iri-risk natin iyong lisensya natin? Huwag po kasi pwede tayong ma-report sa PRC at pwedeng tanggalin iyong lisensya natin,&quot; he added.Leachon couldn&#x27;t agree more.&quot;Categorically, I&#x27;d like to say this is a minority. Not all doctors are bad. In fact, they are noble, they&#x27;re compassionate, and kind,&quot; he said.&quot;We have to stop them from doing this so that they cannot actually affect the majority of the Filipino doctors in the country and affect also the other good pharmaceutical and drug companies in the Philippines,&quot; he added.Ocampo shares the same sentiment.&quot;We have to be very clear also that we have good doctors, who really abide by what they took oath for,&quot; she said.&quot;So kung mayroon mang iba who would go into that, then I am personally very much against that as a pharmacist... Nakaka-disappoint iyon,&quot; she added.

The Department of Health (DOH) is acting on reports about an alleged multi-level marketing or pyramiding scheme where some doctors are involved.

The Department of Health (DOH) is acting on reports about an alleged multi-level marketing or pyramiding scheme where some doctors are involved.

Health advocate says some doctors may be involved in 'pyramid scheme'

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Health advocate says some doctors may be involved in 'pyramid scheme'

Arra Perez,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 26, 2024 08:28 PM PHT

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Updated Jun 11, 2024 02:07 PM PHT

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