Pfizer Philippines Accused Of Bribery For Offering 5 Million Discount Cards
This article was originally published in PharmAsia News
Executive Summary
The head of the Philippines Senate accused Pfizer Philippines of attempting to bribe the government to circumvent the nation's new drug-pricing law. The allegation is an interpretation of Pfizer's offer to provide 5 million discount cards to the Department of Health, mainly for the company's Norvasc (amlodipine) for treating hypertension. The head of the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines revealed the offer, which he said was made before the department set maximum retail prices for 22 drugs. The department rejected the company's offer, but the Senate president said it was an attempt to bribe the government into blocking enforcement of the Quality Affordable Medicine Law. (Click here for more