This refers to recent reports of pharmaceutical companies giving privileges to medical professionals and using a multi-level marketing scheme to entice them to advertise and prescribe medical products.

 

Medical professionals are expected to uphold professional and ethical standards. Societal pressures, financial gains, and administrative exigencies shall not compromise the rights of the patient to quality healthcare services.

 

The Department of Health (Philippines) strictly reminds all health professionals and personnel that accepting gifts, grants, or any emoluments from biopharmaceutical companies or members of industry, in exchange of any act benefiting such company or member of the industry, is unethical.

 

TEODORO J. HERBOSA, MD

Secretary of Health