By Nimfa Estrellado Quezon Medical Center. (Photo from Quezon Medical Center) LUCENA CITY, Quezon - Quezon Governor Angelina "Dokto...
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| Quezon Medical Center. (Photo from Quezon Medical Center) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon - Quezon Governor Angelina "Doktora Helen" Tan issued a Memorandum Circular as a strong reminder to all medical practitioners in the province to strictly adhere to ethical drug practices and to set a good example by keeping ethical standards in the medical profession.
It intends to scrutinize the public health system's integrity following alleged unethical practices in the pharmaceutical industry, particularly the suspected multi-level marketing (MLM) scheme run by the company Bell-Kenz Pharma.
The DOH had previously issued Department Circular 2024-0141, which warns doctors, nurses, and other healthcare personnel in DOH-regulated facilities that accepting gifts, grants, or any benefits from biopharmaceutical companies in exchange for promoting those companies' products is a serious ethical violation.
These principles are outlined in Department Circular No. 2024-0141: Upholding Ethical Standards, Adhering to Medical City Principles for Business Ethics in the Biopharmaceutical Sector and Patients Rights, and Reiteration of Administrative Order No. 2015-0053, “Implementing Guidelines on the Promotion and Marketing of Prescription Pharmaceutical Products and Medical Devices,” signed by Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa.
The Quezon provincial government strongly supports this initiative and directs all its hospitals, medical officers, nurses, pharmacists, and staff to strictly comply with the outlined guidelines. They are also directed to refrain from any practices that could compromise their professional integrity or negatively impact patient care.
The governor also reminded health-care workers to follow to the Mexico City Principles of Voluntary Codes of Business Ethics in the Biopharmaceutical Sector, or the Mexico City Principles (MCP), which are based on healthcare and patient focus, integrity, independence, legitimate intent, transparency, and accountability, and laid out the standards for the ethical promotion of medicines.
Governor Tan also stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in all interactions with pharmaceutical companies to ensure patient welfare and safety. Medical professionals are urged to prioritize evidence-based practice and unbiased decision-making in their prescribing practices.
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