The Department of Health on Monday issued Department Circular No. 2024- 0141 reminding all medical professionals to “uphold professional and ethical standards” following the recent reports of pharmaceutical companies giving privileges using a “multi-level marketing scheme” to entice them to advertise/prescribe medical products.
“Medical professionals are expected to uphold professional and ethical standards. The interest of the patient shall be paramount to any interest. Societal pressures, financial gains and administrative exigencies shall not compromise the rights of the patient to quality healthcare service.” “I hope maimbestigahan. Kung maimbestigahan po ito, Senate or Congressional hearing para naman makita… This is really, really unacceptable. This is abominable. This is repulsive. This is highly irregular, highly irresponsible. This is highly criminal,” he lamented that the pharma’s money given to the doctors may increase prescribing of a drug.