By Dona Pazzibugan
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Sponsored
golf games and seminars in
posh resorts here and
abroad for doctors are no longer allowed among drug companies belonging to the Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines as it tried to police its ranks against unethical promotional activities.
PHAP executive director Reiner Gloor said since 2005, three of their more than 50 member-companies have been fined between P100,000 to P300,000 for violation of their self-imposed code of ethical pharmaceutical marketing activities.
Their code of ethics, which came about due to excessive promotional activities by drug companies to get doctors to prescribe their brands, has been revised several times since it was first issued in 1993.
“As of January 2007, there is totally no more (sponsored) golf games,†Gloor said in a roundtable discussion with reporters Monday.
Gloor said they have not expelled any member-company since erring officials readily admit to the infraction and heed the warning or pay the fine.
An ethics committee made up mostly of non-PHAP member officials investigate all complaints and decide on the sanctions which range from fines, notification to their headquarters, publication in newspapers and expulsion as the maximum penalty.
PHAP president Oscar Aragon said their member-companies report on each other if their medical representatives or agents see excesses among their counterparts.
Their code of ethics, however, is not binding on non-PHAP members. There are about 400 pharmaceutical companies in the country and only about 50 belong to PHAP.
Gloor admitted that some unethical promotional activities by drug companies among doctors persist, but he said these may not be PHAP members.
According to Gloor, in 2005 one member was fined P200,000 while the ethics committee investigated 37 complaints.
The following year, another member was fined P100,000 while 13 complaints were investigated. In 2007, eight complaints including one drawn-out investigation that resulted in the maximum fine of P300,000 slapped on a member the next year.
The ethics committee received 21 complaints in 2008, and so far four complaints this year but no fines have been imposed.
Under the PHAP code of ethics, member drug companies are barred from sponsoring seminars and conventions in resort locations such as Boracay, Palawan and Bohol and other leisure locations abroad. Side trips and tours during medical seminars are also not allowed.
Sponsorship of any sports activities such as golf, badminton and bowling is also not allowed under the code.
“One or two cases investigated in 2007 were related to golf,†Gloor admitted.
Under the code of ethics, drug companies can not put doctors under obligation to prescribe their brand in exchange for sponsoring their continuing medical education.
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