Pharma firms told: Report ties with health care providers

MANILA, Philippines — Amid the “prescription for sale” controversy, all pharmaceutical and other medical supply companies are reminded to submit reports on financial relationships with health care providers to the Food and Drug Administration.

FDA director general Samuel Zacate on April 26 reminded concerned establishments to submit the required financial report to the agency’s online disclosure reporting system.

All FDA-licensed manufacturers, traders, repackers, distributor-importers and distributor-wholesalers of drugs, medical devices and biological products, including vaccines and medical supplies, are mandated to collect and track all financial relationships with health care providers and health care professionals, he noted.

Those financial reports must be submitted to the Department of Health through the FDA, Zacate said.

The FDA has issued guidelines and established an online disclosure system, he added.

The Senate conducted a public hearing into allegations that pharmaceutical firm Bell-Kenz Phama Inc. is giving out luxury gifts and commissions to doctors who prescribe their medicines.

The firm denied the allegations and insisted they were adhering to all government regulations.

Meanwhile, Bicol Saro party-list Rep. Brian Yamsuan yesterday pushed for the swift passage of House Bill 3984, which would impose harsher penalties against criminals responsible for the large-scale manufacturing and selling of counterfeit pharmaceutical products.

Yamsuan, co-author of the measure, made the call after the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines and the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines recently launched a joint campaign to remove counterfeit medicines from the market and promote affordable health care innovations.

HB 3984 would impose fines of up to P100,000 to P5 million and suspend or revoke violators’ license to do business, as well as lifetime imprisonment.