Appearing before the Senate Committee on Health and Demography, the firm’s chairperson and chief executive officer Luis Raymond Go declared that the company is not involved in illegal marketing schemes as claimed by Senator JV Ejercito.

Citing “whistle blowers”, Ejercito accused the Philippine-based pharmaceutical firm of engaging in pyramiding as a way of marketing its products.

Ejercito said the firm and doctors involved in the alleged scheme may have violated ethical standards in the medical profession.

The House health and demography panel started its inquiry into the alleged collusion between doctors and pharmaceutical firms that resort to bribery to ensure that medical professionals prescribe their products to patients.

Ejercito said he learned about the irregularities in the medical profession when he was approached by “whistleblowers” and other pharmaceutical firms condemning the alleged unethical operations of Bell-Kenz.

Sen. Jinggoy Estrada said he learned that doctors who connive with pharmaceutical firms get at least 8 percent rebates of the cost of medicines that are sold thru their prescription.

According to Estrada many doctors are treated to luxury trips and given cash as they reach quotas set by the pharmaceutical firms.

Go said the incentives they give doctors should not be considered as bribe.

He denied offering or giving doctors cash and even luxury cars for prescribing their products.

“We give them continuing medical education locally and abroad, and sometimes we also provide them with clinic equipment,” he told senators.