The Australian government is investigating claims by the Pharmacy Guild that Big Pharma are deliberately keeping their cheaper drug brands in short supply to force patients to buy their more expensive brands.
"They deliberately manipulate the system so you can't actually get a supply of the generic brand," Pharmacy Guild president Kos Sclavos told the Daily Telegraph.
But Medicines Australia, the pharmaceutical industry body, said its member companies were committed to working with the government to ensure the Australian health care system remained one of the world's best.
"Accusations of deliberately created shortages in the supply of cheaper, generic medicines in Australia... are unfounded," Medicines Australia Chief Executive Ian Chalmers said in a statement."I call on anyone who believes they may have evidence of market manipulation to take their concerns directly to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
"Health Minister Tony Abbott earlier on Thursday said he would look into whether so-called "sharp practices" were occurring."If there is sharp practice going on I am most concerned and I will be looking into it because I don't want companies to engage in sharp practice at patient's expense," Mr Abbott told reporters in Canberra."I would like to think that serious companies treat the public with respect and goodwill."
More at The Age
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