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Bell Kenz pharma hit for 'unethical practices'
By Nidz Godino
"It's probably high time that we come up with legislation similar to United States, Anti-Kickback Statute, criminal law that prohibits knowing and willful payment of 'remuneration' to induce or reward patient referrals, or generation of business involving any item or service payable by Federal health care programs," Sen. Jinggoy Estrada noted group of doctors who own pharmaceutical company has been giving rebates of up to P2 million, luxury cars, travel and other perks to doctors who prescribe firm's medicines.
In privilege speech, Estrada called for Senate probe, in aid of legislation, on practices of Bell-Kenz Pharma, whose products range from anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic drugs to antibiotics and health supplements. He said firm has been operating since 2006.
Estrada said company "shamelessly recruits doctors, enticing them with promises of exorbitant commissions and lavish incentives in exchange for prescribing their medicines blatant violation of their ethical principles, betrayal of trust bestowed upon them by their patients and flagrant disregard for sacredness of their profession."
Bell-Kenz Pharma officers have yet to respond to Estrada's accusations.
Certain doctors have reportedly become "entangled in web of pharmaceutical company shamelessly peddles its products through deplorable multi-level marketing scheme," Estrada said.
Bell-Kenz Pharma's executives, doctors Luis Go, Berwyn Flores and James Cayetano, call themselves Jedis as they love Star Wars media franchise, he noted.
"According to data from Securities and Exchange Commission, standing directors or officers are Luis Raymond Go as president, Alina Fatima M. Hojilla (vice president), Joseph Vincent Go (corporate secretary, a lawyer), Jaime Cayetano Jr. (treasurer) and 58 other stockholders who are all doctors from different parts of the country," he said.
"To become a Jedi, they have to prescribe Bell-Kenz drugs, even supplements sold by the company, whether patient needs them or not… 'entry' investment level is around P250,000 to P500,000," he added.
Doctors' productivity is regularly monitored by Jedi and once they reach target productivity, they level up to Jedihood with benefits including eight percent rebates based on monthly productivity, usually around P2 million, Estrada said.
"On top of that is what they call annual 'Jedi star tour…depending on whether doctor hits his 3.5 percent productivity target, they can be given Asian, European or US tour package…cash or luxury items like their 'dream car' come from rebates…rebates accumulated are convertible to cash, luxury cars, Rolex and more," he said.
Bell-Kenz Pharma also has "second investors" called "Padawans," also Star Wars reference. They are entitled to receive dividends and rebates and earn milestone points.
"While it is not illegal for medical professionals to engage in business activities, it is highly unethical when pharmaceutical company owned by doctors hires other doctors as agents and pays them commissions based on prescriptions they give to patients," Estrada maintained.
He said since Jedi " re-recruited a lot, it is only natural that company's growth is also fast. From P1 billion in sales in 2016, it increased further and reached P3.2 billion in 2018 and P5 billion in 2019."
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