3 docs “favoring” certain pharmacy sued

CEBU, Philippines - For allegedly forcing patients to buy medicines exclusively at a specific pharmacy, three resident doctors of the Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital are now facing charges before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

Yesterday lawyer Edmerito Ang Gobonseng filed a criminal complaint for violation of the Anti-graft and Corrupt Practices Act and an administrative complaint for violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials against spouses Dr. Nollie and Dr. Alicia Cortez and Dr. Roel Banzon.

In an interview, Gobonseng said he filed the complaint on behalf of the patients and not on behalf of his pharmacy. He said the actions of the respondents in allegedly forcing the patients to buy medicines only at the Farmacia Leonarda, which is owned by Nollie, violated the law.

Gobonseng is one of the owners of Edago Dexter Farmacia Co. in Barangay Gun-ob, Lapu-Lapu City.

In his complaint-affidavit, Gobonseng said the respondents “exerted unethical practices in forcing their patient and patient’s representative to buy the prescribed medicine only at Farmacia Leonarda.”

“If the patient or patient’s representative does not buy the prescribed medicines from Farmacia Leonarda, Dr. Nollie or Dr. Banzon would demand from the patient or patient’s representative to return the medicines and insist that the patient or patient’s representative to buy at Farmacia Leonarda otherwise they will not administer or inject the medicines on the patient who badly needed it,” the complaint reads.

Gobonseng alleged that sometimes the three respondents would even follow the patient’s representative to see if they really bought the prescribed medicine at Farmacia Leonarda.

Celso Palma, one of the companions of Gobonseng in filing the complaints, said last Nov. 7 his wife was admitted to the Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital due to dehydration.

He said Nollie prescribed him four 250mg vials of ampicillin and 28 500mg capsules of tetracycline.  He bought the prescribed medicines at Edago Dexter Farmacia but Nollie allegedly got angry because he did not buy the said medicines at Farmacia Leonarda. Palma said if he will buy the prescribed medicines at Farmacia Leonarda, he cannot buy all because his money was not enough.

Several times, Gobonseng said medicines were returned to their pharmacy.

Compared to the Farmacia Leonarda, Gobonseng said they offer cheaper price and gave 20 percent discounts to all customers for all generic medicines except for the vials, ampoules, parental fluids and medical supplies which they offered ten percent discounts.

Moreover, Gobonseng asked the Office of the Ombudsman to suspend the couple and Banzon from office while the investigation was still going on.

Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City District Hospital chief Dr. Bolivar Miñoza Jr. said patients have the freedom to choose where to buy medicines prescribed by their doctors.

“Patient and patient’s representative have the right to choose what pharmacy they prefer,” he said referring to the purchased of medicines.

However, he said sometimes doctors choose pharmacies they think are reliable.  Miñoza added that he will meet the three doctors to clarify the issue.  –(FREEMAN)