TRUST is an important factor in medical practice.

Without trust, you generate a dysfunctional organisation with teams that make disappointing progress. An organization that generates low trust is like a plane without fuel. You can fumble about in it all you want, but it won’t successfully progress to a new destination.

Last week, news came out that a pharma company was allegedly incorporated in 2006.

Doctors are not supposed to profit from the medicines they prescribe. This invites public health concerns. It could lead to over-medication or wrong prescriptions.

It turns out, from the documents reviewed, that whistleblowers have complained to the Department of Health (DOH) about this company.

Needless to say, the medicines sold by this company cost more than their equivalent brands. Patients pay more for the medicines they need, regardless of efficacy. They are also advised to take other supplements sold by the same company regardless of whether they need them or not.

This is why several international protocols have been adopted to prohibit physicians from having a pecuniary interest in the drugs they prescribe.

Doctors enjoy the highest trust rating globally. And trust has 3 components – competence, honesty and ethical behavior. If one of the components or pillars crumbles, then trust is lost. Trust is a very precious but perishable ideal.

The Senate will be conducting hearing on April 30 , 2024 on this matter.

We will be there to shed light on a grievous issue that has shaken the very foundation of trust between the medical community and the people it serves.

As we navigate through the facts of these cases, it is crucial to remember that the actions of a few do not define the many.

The majority of doctors and pharmaceutical companies continue to operate with integrity and dedication.

Alleged corruption erodes the very essence of patient care and casts a long shadow over the aspirations of our youth, who look up to these professionals as role models. How can we assure the future generations that a career in medicine is a noble pursuit when faced with such disheartening realities?

We must act decisively restore faith in a system meant to protect and heal. Let this hearing mark the beginning of that restoration, as we commit to ensuring that the ethos of healthcare in the Philippines is characterized by compassion, integrity, and unwavering ethical standards.

Anthony C. Leachon, M. D.

Independent Health Reform Advocate

Past President,
Philippine College of Physicians

Department of Internal Medicine
Manila Doctors Hospital