Daiichi Sankyo to pay $39 mil as penalty for doctor kickbacks in U.S.

Aha you should see what goes on here. Big pharma start on doctors-to-be in med school! Dinners, bentos, drinks - all while they're still students!

Japanese companies think that what works at home works abroad too. These fines are a pittance compared to the money they make and should be tripled at least.

Tip of the iceberg

In Japan this kind of thing is encouraged, not punished. And if the companies are so obvious about it that the police and justice system have absolutely no choice but to hold them accountable the companies, or government bodies, always just say "we didn't know about this", or, "I don't know what my people are up to -- I'm just the boss" and nothing is done about it. Fortunately, that doesn't fly as much in other nations, and this is yet ANOTHER corrupt Japanese company making massive payouts for trying to do things overseas that would fly back at home. Just ask Honda how much they are being forced to pay for trying to sweep the fact that they failed to report accidents and faults under the rug. These companies are NOT being forced to pay enough, even though they sometimes get the max. There should be jail time for such obvious and flagrant ignoring of the laws.

If a drug is truly good, get it out there.

Hopefully Daiichi learns a lesson that certain dodgy practices perfectly acceptable in Japan are outlawed overseas. They sure need a shake-up if they want to operate outside Japan - and new legal advisors!

Yubaru

Japanese companies think that what works at home works abroad too. These fines are a pittance compared to the money they make and should be tripled at least.

totally agree, $39m is nothing compared to what they must've made

This is so obvious if your family visits the family doctor/physician who prescribes the same drug over and over like ciprofloxacin. Why only this antibiotic, is it the holy grail of penicillin derivatives or does bayer have a doctor pharmaceutical lovefest going on here?

Indeed, ANOTHER corrupt Japanese company making massive payouts for trying to do things and another corrupt Japanese company which does avoid the crime section.

Wish they woud start getting nailed here for bribes & corruption, costs anyone living in Japan a small fortune!

As if the doctors don't know that they are doing anything wrong. Oh, as long as they can make money, all's well that goes well! Why aren't they punished too! They could say, "sorry we'll continue using our present clients' medicine(s). Greed at it's best. I have two doctors as students and they don't make a lot of money...

when isnt there a japanese company not in the news for faulty products, price fixing, corruption. Japan will never be a free market place until the J gov/regulators come down hard on them. since most of those in power are in the pockets of the big companies i dont see anything changing soon.

Takes two to tango...what happened to all of the greedy physicians who willingly and knowingly took the money in exchange for writing the company's products in their prescriptions? Nothing!

There are also international and Japanese pharmaceutical promotion codes for the conduct of drug companies and their staff. Most companies adhere to the codes, but their application and interpretation can be flexible...

Like other posters, this is normal in Japan and should be stamped out.

There is a HUGE problem with pharmaceutical companies here in Japan. They are in bed with the politicians and keep the market here closed to new and important drugs that could help people here.

Japanese pharmaceutical companies spend a pittance on development of new drugs in comparison to European and US makers and keep a tight fisted control on the market.

There is ZERO need to go to the doctor as much as the typical Japanese person does when it comes to common treatable aliments. It's because these companies control the markets and types of drugs proscribed.

This company is probably setting or trying to anyway, set the ground work for a continuation of the status quo with the potential of losing their market to foreign companies when the TPP is completed.

Is it just me or when you go to see the doctor here they're not shy in prescribing every medication under the sun? At first I thought it was for my benefit, as the patient, but I've come to realise that I'm just another customer in this business transaction. It's dodgy as...

I really wish the Japanese government would come down on this domestically, too. However, it's not like Daiichi is the only company who does this at home or abroad: <>http://healthimpactnews.com/2014/doctors-earn-3-5-billion-in-kickbacks-from-pharmaceutical-companies/

In any case, let's hope this sets a positive precedent.

I remember a certain doctor prescribing me medicine here- he never spoke to me in the consultation and as I was leaving the desk clerk called me over to give me a prescription. Needless to say I never got the prescription filled!I went on to have the problem ( swollen tissue on my head ) removed by a specialist in the UK......

Glad to see they get to pay for their scummy business practices somewhere, even if it's just pocket money for them. I get the feeling kickbacks and bribes are big parts of Japanese business culture. Much more so than in many other countries. A kind of old-fashioned mentality going on... It must be culture, because anytime you mention weird behavior to a Japanese, they always get back with: "It's Japanese culture.".

There is ZERO need to go to the doctor as much as the typical Japanese person does...

A to the MEN to that. What's up with that? Nose running a bit or some fever? To the clinic. A little cough? To the clinic. And, as sighclops said, they write you a prescription for so much different medicines. Someone benefits but I doubt it's the patient.

"Settlements like this one show that the government will continue to pursue health care companies that use kickbacks to promote their products.”

I think this is slightly missing key words, and should read:

“Settlements like this one show that the government will continue to pursue health care companies that DO NOT use ENOUGH kickbacks to promote their products.”

There. hmm. that seems more in tune with FDA/JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/BOLIVIAN IMPORTS/THE AMERICAN WAY - Giggles.

This is a smoking gun. Is there any question now that doctors in the US and Japan prescribe way more medications than necessary due to their relationships with drug companies? The influence of monetary kickbacks is a cancer in our healthcare systems. Tip of the iceberg here.

Such corruption has long been considered normal practice, and the bribes and fines just the cost of doing business, the world over. It's the financial well being of the corporate owners that matters, not the health of the consumers of their products. The purpose of an easily affordable fine like this is to fool people into thinking the authorities are taking action to protect them, when in the bigger picture of what's happening nothing could be further from the truth!

I am not sure why this particular company has been singled out. Kickbacks to doctors by pharmaceutical companies is common practice in the US and other countries and has been forever. Do you imagine that when doctors go to some "conference" in some exotic location they pay for it themselves? Why do you think prescription drugs are so expensive?

Excessive prescribing in Japan and undue influence over prescribing are really separate matters. Hospitals, clinics and physicians here earn money through the difference between the NHI reimbursement price of drugs and the actual cost of the drugs that they pay - known colloquially as 'yakka-sa'. This goes some way towards funding the hospital or clinic, and off-setting other costs which they are not reimbursed, as well as going towards salaries. Hence, the poly-pharmacy on every visit, with drugs to manage possible side effects of other drugs!

It's just a pity that pain control here is so badly managed, low doses of aspirin, paracetamol and high doses of gaman are the mainstay of pain control therapy, even after surgery.!

If a drug is truly good, get it out there.

When you're bribing the prescripbers, it's harder to tell what drugs are truly good. A.k.a. conflict of influence.

Is this why in Japan when I get a common cold I get literally 5-6 different pills to take? I'm not joking.