Suhol Card?

Pfizer representative Angel(?) Pascual was interviewed over DZMM last night. Pascual did more harm than good. She revealed that the Sulit card was launched 2002 and has benefitted close to 1.9 million. Though she's a good speaker, Pascual however revealed too much info to be desired. First, she said that Pfizer is really not amenable to the Cheaper Medicines law which only shows that these current efforts to do a CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) are geared towards undermining the implementation of the law. So, that Sulit card is really a "suhol card" (as described by Ted Failon) coached in marketingspeak. Why? They offered it last May. Although Pfizer wants to emphasize that the offer was made prior to the release of the 22 drugs which Duque wants to tag an MRP. Surely, the purpose of this discount card program is delimit the coverage of the law.

Pfizer is really on the forefront of efforts to undermine a Filipino law. And based on the tone of Pascual, it seems that the multinational giant really wants to impose their will, their desire upon us. Which is revolting to say the least.

Pfizer should be taught a lesson. Maybe a wide and expansive mass movement should do the trick.

Duque hero on Pfizer alleged bribe offer

The Cheaper Medicines Law is a classic example of how strong multinational lobbying muscle is. Prior to that July 8 meeting these pharma companies had with Arroyo, they first had a meeting with Executive secretary Eduardo Ermita. In that meeting, they discussed their apprehensions over the impending implementation of an Executive Order which would mandate a maximum retail price ceiling on at least 22 pharmaceutical products which the Department of Health submitted to Mrs. Arroyo. Remember that it was last June 8, 2008 that the Cheaper Medicines Law was signed by no less than Mrs. Arroyo and it took Malacanang a full year before they decided to implement it.

There is no law that bars multinationals or any other company from lobbying. And there are ethical rules on this. What is so worrisome, to say the least, is the brazenness that these pharma companies are showing.

Pfizer, for example, is too abrasive that it even claims that we're all wrong about the alleged bribery issue. Pfizer made a faux pas when it even stated in its statement that their Sulit card program was implemented a full year ago, at the time when the Cheaper Medicines Law was signed by Mrs. Arroyo. Why only now that it is being offered to the Department of Health (DoH)? If Pfizer indeed went ahead with this program with clean intentions, then, at the onset, they should have partnered up with the DoH.

What Pfizer and the rest of these giant pharmas want is to limit the coverage of the law by voluntarily giving discounts to just 5 million Filipinos. That is a veritable offer to present an alternative solution to the Cheaper Medicines law. The law states that everyone should benefit from lower priced medicines, not just 1.5 million GSIS members or 400,000 indigents under the Philhealth program (the coverage right now of the Sulit Card program). And granting that Pfizer indeed wants to expand the coverage of their sulit cards, 5 million is too small a number just to consider. Why not make it 40 million? And then, further increase it to 60 million then 80 million? Why settle just for 5 million?

These pharmas want to skirt the law and delimit it thru an Executive action. They were unsuccessful in Congress, they're now trying their best to do the lobbying inside Malacanang. And palace occupants are too happy to accommodate them, except Health secretary Francisco Duque.

Duque should be praised by the Filipino People for standing his ground against these multinational companies. Duque categorically stated that "50% price slash or we don't talk." That's the kind of toughness we need at this point. Duque has just shown how government can be effective against these vicious pharmaceutical companies who think that they can just throw their weight around. Of course, these pharmas will still try to lobby when Mrs. Arroyo goes to Washington this July 30, but it remains to be seen whether Mrs. Arroyo would ever compromise government policy over multinational interests.

Pfizer tries yet fails to wriggle out of "bribery" scam

Pfizer Philippines today denied that it tried to bribe government and considered it a "direct affront" to its corporate reputation when Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile described their offer as a "bribe."

( By the way, read The Huff on history of Pfizer's alleged moves to "bully" the Philippine government to protect its anti-hyperintensive drug Norvasc from price ceilings. Read this link. Pfizer pala sued government in 2006 and even used its ties with the US State department to pressure our government to succumb to its whims)

Pfizer explained that the alleged offer to provide 5 million Sulit Patient Care discount cards was actually a plan to partner up with the Department of Health. Pfizer says its sulit cards are being used by 1.8 "indigent" patients throughout the Philippines. Pfizer just thought it wise to expand the program to include an additional 5 million people. The offer daw was made last May, weeks before the release of the list of drugs with maximum retail price ceilings.

Crap. Bull. Pfizer is definitely not telling us the truth.

Look, Pfizer and their PR handlers probably surmised that we're all suckers. In fact, their statement opened a Pandora's box of questions. Tangekngek ang mga PR nitong Pfizer!

First, if Pfizer was really telling the truth that the offer was "genuinely for indigent patients", then, why did they not offer it to the Department of Health at the time they conceptualize it? Why did Pfizer entered into agreements first with GSIS and Philhealth before going to DOH? What's so special with employees of GSIS and of PhilHealth?

Second, if Pfizer really was on this "with clean hands and with clean intentions," then, why was the offer made months before it was launched? The timing is very suspicious to say the least.

Third, if their sulit card program is really "above-board", then why was it rejected outright by Health secretary Francisco Duque Jr.? Some say, Duque favors Wyeth kasi. But, I don't think that's right. Duque probably thought it wise not to succumb to the tempting P100 M. Good for Duque.

Pfizer will find it very, very hard to wiggle themselves out of this mess. One principle in effective crisis management is---admit the truth. Don't lie. Try to be very transparent. In this case, palpak na agad ang Pfizer.

And this is a challenge to Senators Mar Roxas and Juan Ponce-Enrile and even to Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo----HUWAG PALAMPASIN ANG GINAWANG ITO NG PFIZER PATI NG MGA PHARMA COMPANIES. I ADMIRE YOU GENTLEMEN. DON'T LET THE PUBLIC DOWN. IF THESE PHARMA COMPANIES ARE NOT PUNISHED DESPITE ENRILE'S ASSERTION THAT THEY TRIED TO BRIBE GOVERNMENT, THEN, I'M SORRY BUT I HAVE TO WRITE THE TRUTH. DO NOT COMPROMISE YOUR PRINCIPLES, HONORABLE SENATORS.

I CHALLENGE MRS. ARROYO TO ORDER THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO FILE ATTEMPTED BRIBERY CASE AGAINST PFIZER AND OTHER PHARMA EXECUTIVES WHO WERE THERE LAST JULY 8, 2009. IF ARROYO IS REALLY HONEST IN HER ANTI-GRAFT CAMPAIGN, START WITH PFIZER.

PETER FAVILA SHOULD ALSO COME CLEAN AND REVOKE THE LICENSES AND REGISTRATION OF THESE PHARMA FIRMS, PARTICULARLY PFIZER. IF THEY DO THESE, I WILL STOP CRITICIZING THIS REGIME.

O, KAYA MO BA HA GLORIA?

Pfizer's bribe offer and Mrs. Arroyo's culpable violation of the Constitution!

Today, Pfizer Philippines tried to wiggle itself out of the bribe mess when they denied that they offered government a P 100 million peso bribe.

For those who just read this, Senators yesterday accused Pfizer of an attempt to bribe Mrs. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo by offering her 5 million discount cards worth P 100 million in exchange for not signing an executive order (in fact, part of the implementing guidelines of the Cheaper Medicines Law). The order is supposed to release a list of medicines with maximum retail price ceilings, an important component of the law. The bribe offer reportedly happened last July 8, just before the DOH released the list of drugs affected by the price ceilings.

Pfizer denied that a bribe offer happened, yet it was Reiner Gloor, executive director of the pharmaceutical company representing 50 pharmas who confirmed it. The discount cards, says Gloor, are to be distributed to alleged "indigent patients" under a program called Sulit Patient Care card program which is already being implemented by Pfizer with an agreement with GSIS and PhilHealth.

The sulit card patient care program is the brain child of Mr. Albert G. Mateo Jr., Pfizer's country manager. Legislators, including Cong. Hontiveros-Baraquel condemned the program saying its discriminatory since it would only cover areas where Pfizer med reps go to. Pfizer med reps are the ones who distribute the cards.

Senator Juan Ponce-Enrile said the purpose of these discount cards is to impede or stop the implementation of the Cheaper Medicines Law. That constitutes bribery. And Pfizer Philippines is the alleged mastermind behind the bribery attempt.

The question really is---why did Mrs. Arroyo stayed her hand on this? If I'm the president, all the more will I sign the E.O. and not give these pharma companies a day more to react. Why? Because Mrs. Arroyo pledged to uphold the interests of the entire Nation, not just the interests of these giant pharma companies.

What's more, Mrs. Arroyo could be charged with culpable violation of the Constitution by misfeasance. She's supposed to ministerially implement the Cheaper Medicines Law. Why the hell is she dangling the law like a carrot to these pharma companies? Is she waiting for a better offer from them?

And please, Trade Secretary Peter Favila---don't go around town impressing upon us that you're "angry" with these pharma companies. You're just faking it. You're part of this scheme to lure these pharma companies to a trap so that they give a better offer. Better for you, Mr. Favila, to just implement the law and start with Pfizer by cancelling their registration. Same with Wyeth Philippines, Roche, and Sanofi who were with Pfizer representatives when they met Mrs. Arroyo last July 8.

Mrs. Arroyo, this is the time for you to redeem yourself. Show your power by punishing Pfizer and the rest of its pharma cohorts by cancelling their registrations. If not, then, be prepared for a strong showing of anger by the People very, very, very soon.