Pharma CEO denies illegal marketing, unethical practices

MANILA, Philippines — The Bell-Kenz pharmaceutical company does not use the multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme and sells medicines at a lower cost compared to other brands, cardiologist and chief executive officer Dr. Luis Raymond Go said.

At yesterday’s public hearing of the Senate committee on health, Go denied allegations that Bell-Kenz gives doctors commissions in the form of cash or high-end cars and other luxury gifts in exchange for prescribing Bell-Kenz medicines.

He also emphasized that Bell-Kenz has made prices of maintenance medicines lower with significant savings.

“People who are suffering from hypertension, diabetes and coronary diseases will only need to spend P128.15 daily, saving you P445.50 to P4,600.50 monthly and P11,286 to P55,206 yearly,” he said.

Shown a Bell-Kenz check paid by a doctor, Go clarified that the check is 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.

Go said the “misinformed” and “unfounded” allegations against their firm “hurts the credibility and integrity of the medical profession” and “undermines public trust in health care.”

“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 said.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada questioned Go about the perks their company was giving to doctors, to which the pharma official replied, “We give them continuing medical education locally and abroad and sometimes we provide them clinic equipment.”

“Trips abroad?” Estrada asked.

Go said yes, but maintained there were no cars and money and expensive wristwatches like Rolex.

Estrada said he was not convinced that the perks were only trips abroad and simple gifts as documents he gathered indicated that there were doctors who received SUVs and expensive cars.

“Do you want me to mention the names of these doctors based in Bulacan driving Maserrati, while the other cardiologists based in Baguio City has BMW, Audi and other SUVs?” said Estrada.

The senator said they have no problem with the quality of medicine sold by Bell-Kenz, but even if the patient does not need it, Bell-Kenz allegedly prescribes the medicine to make money.

Go, who is a cardiologist at the Philippine Heart Center, admitted that his prescription medicine was 90 percent from Bell-Kenz, a practice that the senator considered as a conflict of interest.

Estrada instructed Go to submit to the Senate the list of their members and drugs that are manufactured or imported abroad.

Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) chief Jose Cueto Jr. said if the accusations are true, Republic Act 2382 contains a provision that violation of the code of ethics of the medical profession is one of the grounds for reprimand, suspension or revocation of license.

“We, at this point in time, cannot give categorical answers but as I said, it would be based on the evidence that will be gathered. So we have enough provisions of the law that can be used as a basis by the board of medicine that will investigate,” he said.

Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa said, “If the gift is this exorbitant, license revocation is up to the PRC.”

“Doctors are not allowed to sell medicine if they do not have a pharmacy license,” he added, saying that doctors are also not allowed to prescribe medicine that will be bought from them.

Senate committee on health chairman Sen. Bong Go said the Senate will hold those responsible for what seems to be the exploitation of patients, who are forced to follow doctors’ prescriptions even though they are more expensive than other drugs.

“The problem here is that treatment has become a business, not a health interest. Making money. In the end, your patients, especially the poor, are the losers. That’s why I said, when our doctors prescribe, they should prioritize what will heal and improve the patient, prioritize what will treat the patient,” he noted.

Doctor and public health advocate Antonio Leachon has described the “prescription for sale” controversy of the Bell-Kenz pharmaceutical company as the biggest medical corruption in modern times.