DOH: Doctors found accepting gifts from drug firms may lose license

Following the revelation of an alleged marketing scheme of certain pharmaceutical companies, the Department of Health (DOH) on Tuesday warned that doctors who accept gifts in exchange of their preference to the firms’ manufactured medicines might cost them their medical licenses.

DOH Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo pointed out that while the scheme is still subject to investigation, the agency has already received information that some doctors are receiving incentives, with others even getting luxury cars, from pharmaceutical companies.

In return, Domingo said the doctors have to prescribe drug brands to their patients.

“Sa ating medical ethics, sa code of ethics of the medical profession by the Philippine Medical Association, which has basis in law dahil kapag binasa natin ang Medical Act, nakasulat doon na ang isang doktor ay actually pwedeng tanggalan ng lisensya or suspendihin ang lisensya ng Professional Regulation Commission kung ang code of ethics ay na-violate,” the DOH spokesperson said in a public briefing.

(Based on our code of ethics in the medical profession by the Philippine Medical Association, which has a basis in law because the Medical Act also states that a doctor can actually have his license revoked or suspended by the Professional Regulation Commission if the code of ethics is violated.)

“Anong nakalagay sa code of ethics? Hindi tayo dapat nagtatanggap ng mga kabayaran, ng mga reward, or financial inducements from medical and pharmaceutical companies para ang kanilang mga produkto ay ating bigyan ng pabor, na i-prefer natin,” he added.

(The code of ethics states that doctors should not accept payments, rewards, or financial inducements from medical and pharmaceutical companies in exchange of favoring their products.)

Earlier this month, Senator Raffy Tulfo disclosed a supposed "rampant" practice where doctors prefer to prescribe branded medicines due to the trips sponsored by pharmaceutical firms.

Health Secretary Ted Herbosa on Monday already reminded the country's health professionals and personnel that accepting gifts, grants, or any emoluments from pharmaceutical companies in exchange for a favor is "unethical."

Domingo thus urged health professionals to report any information about the said scheme to the Food and Drug Administration’s Field Regulatory Operations Office, which is now conducting an investigation regarding the matter. 

“Alam natin na mas maraming doktor ang honest. Ang ating concern is pasyente, nanumpa tayo niyan. The patient is our first and only concern kapag gumagamot tayo,” he said.

(We know that there are more doctors who are honest. Our concern is our patients, we swore by that. The patient is our first and only concern when we treat.)—AOL, GMA Integrated News