Pharmaceutical Kickbacks

Right now the pharmaceutical industry is in the middle of its biggest challenge in history. Whistleblowers have exposed and continue to expose fraudulent practices ranging from pricing issues to sales and marketing practices at a rate never anticipated by either the pharmaceutical industry or the Department of Justice. Settlements and jury verdicts have been headline grabbing and large, attracting the attention of pharma, regulators, Congress and taxpayers. The qui tam pharmaceutical fraud cases settled since 2000 alone have amounted to over 3.5 billion dollars, representing various patterns of fraud. We expect to see some new patterns as time goes by, especially with the new Medicare prescription drug benefit. Pharmaceutical fraud is still abundant and this blog is intended to keep readers up to date with all pharmaceutical fraud related news and to provide commentary when warranted. This blog also contains an array of laws and regulations concerning the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act set out in an easy to read format.

Pharma Group Says “No” To Expensive Gifts to Doctors Which Could Influence Their Drug Choices

by Nolan and Auerbach on January 5, 2007

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), a worldwide trade group said that under their revised ethics code that as of January 1, 2007, they were no longer permitted to provide expensive gifts to doctors. This change to the ethics code was the first in the past 10 years. Members of this trade group are no longer permitted to give physicians money or expensive gifts such as stays in luxury hotels or trips to golf resorts that might influence their prescription drug selections. IFPMA members include Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi-Aventis, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Merck and Novartis. Here’s to more reform!

For more information click here.

Leave a Comment