ROXAS SEEKS SENATE PROBE INTO PFIZER'S UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES

Liberal President Senator Mar Roxas today sought a parallel Senate inquiry into the unfair corporate practices of American giant drug firm Pfizer Inc. to thwart the implementation of the one-year old Cheaper Medicines law.

The primary author of the Universally Accessible, Cheaper and Quality Medicines law (Republic Act No. 9502) has earlier asked the US government to investigate Pfizer's possible violations of the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in relation to its unethical efforts to influence the Philippine legislature and the government into weakening the law.

In seeking the Senate inquiry through Senate Resolution No. 1202, Roxas stressed it is important for lawmakers to look deeper into the unjust trade and marketing techniques of multinational pharmaceutical companies, particularly Pfizer, that have "obstruct(ed) the free market from dictating just and reasonable prices of medicines in favor of Filipino consumers."

He insisted there is reason to probe Pfizer in the light of current revelations that it had attempted to use its promotional offerings to influence the executive government against implementing the law.

"Pfizer Inc. has apparently continued with its lobby efforts to derail and impede the swift implementation of the law", he said, citing revelations that Pfizer had allegedly offered five million discount cards (Sulit cards) and promotional posters endorsing the discount cards with President Arroyo and Health Secretary Francisco Duque's photos in the posters, obviously to influence the president against signing the executive order on the maximum retail price.

"It is alarming that Pfizer Inc. offered to expand its 'Sulit' card program to an additional 5 million more patients only at a time when the discount card system was under review and the imposition of MRP is being studied and considered by the Department of Health," the Visayan senator said.

He added the "Sulit" card discount scheme "raises alarming trade and marketing practices issues, foremost of which are Pfizer's ability to amass a huge marketing database through the 'Sulit' card membership forms distributed by doctors and the conditions in fine print imposed therein that allows Pfizer to send emails, calls or text messages to the 'Sulit' card members and disqualifies an individual using the card from availing of Senior Citizen's discount."

Should Pfizer refuse to participate in the Senate hearing, Roxas said the Senate committee on trade and commerce, which he chairs, could issue the necessary subpoena duces tecum and other compulsory legal process to company officials for the submission of records of representations and positions made relative to the legislation of the law.

"Walang karapatan ang sinumang kumpanya na gumagamit ng panunuhol at iba pang manipulasyon, na magpatuloy na magnegosyo sa Pilipinas. At hindi na puwedeng pagtiwalaan ang sinumang gobyerno na nakikiapid sa mga ganitong kumpanya (Companies that resort to bribery and manipulation have no right to operate their business in our country. Any government who connives with such companies cannot be trusted anymore)," he said.

"Walang karapatang magnegosyo dito ang mga kumpanyang humaharang sa ating mga batas para patuloy na makapanloko ng mga mamamayan natin (Companies that block the implementation of our laws so they can continue fooling our people have no right, either, to continue their business here)," he added.