August 28, 2012

By Jeffry John Aufderheide

Do you have a free “Get Out of Jail” card? Apparently Big Pharma does, let me explain.  Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) reported Pfizer using its influential money to bribe foreign governments and their health officials. The apparent goal was to use Pfizer’s money to create unfair economic advantages in the market to peddle their pharmaceuticals and vaccines.[1]  Pfizer, fortunately, was caught doing their shady backroom deals in Bulgaria, Croatia, Kazakhstan, and Russia, which violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). [2]

The DOJ report stated, “Corrupt pay-offs to foreign officials in order to secure lucrative contracts creates an inherently uneven marketplace and puts honest companies at a disadvantage,” said Assistant Director McJunkin.  “Those that attempt to make these illegal backroom deals to influence contract procurement can expect to be investigated by the FBI and appropriately held responsible for their actions.” [1]

In this case, it seems the influence-buying pharmaceutical companies get away with being fined only $45 million in fines, which amounts to a financial slap on the wrist! Money  seems to be their  free “Get Out of Jail” card.

You should know this is not an isolated incident; it’s the tip of the proverbial influence-buying iceberg. Bribery from Big Pharma in the United States, however, takes on a more subtle form or ‘style’.

YOUR Pediatrician and Family DOCTOR Have A PRICE

Here is the apparently brutal truth: “bribery” takes place in the United States in the legal form of speaking fees, plus your doctor may be on Big Pharma’s payroll.  Should we consider Congressional lobbying money too?

For example, in 2009 Merck released a 72-page document showing they paid doctors at least $18,810,495.52 –close to $19 million—in the third and fourth quarters of that year for medical doctors to speak favorably about their pills and vaccines.[3] Additionally, Pro Repulica’s  “Dollar for Docs” project shows at least $761.3 million had been paid to doctors across the United States. [4] Where does Pharma get their money?  Is it from Medicare, Medicaid, and prescription drugs they prescribe, often needlessly?

But the larger question is why do pharmaceutical companies “bribe” doctors? The apparent reason can be summarized in one word:  authority.

Because a doctor has an M.D. attached to his or her name and wears a white coat, 65% of the people will follow their orders without asking questions. [5] Pharma wants their products to be on the tip of every doctor’s tongue to recommend Pharma’s  particular “solution” for all of your or your family’s problems.

Truly, there is a pill for every ill; a drug for every bug. Sounds like a mantra, doesn’t it?

Because doctors are on Pharma’s payroll parents should be extremely concerned about  U.S. government agencies, i.e., Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, who apparently are doing business with pharmaceutical companies that engage in apparent criminal activities, e.g., violating FCPA.

DOES THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DO BUSINESS WITH CRIMINAL COMPANIES?

Do the CDC and FDA transact business with companies found guilty and fined for breaking the law?  Given Big Pharma’s involvement with vaccines and drugs, that is a very relevant question.

Here is what we know that needs to be evaluated in light of the above information about doctors’ Big Pharma payouts.

• The CDC recommends at least 3 pneumococcal vaccines for each child before 6 months of age. [6]
• Pfizer has contract #200-2012-50135 with the CDC [7,8]
• The contract is worth $8,386,013.00, to manufacture the Prevnar 13 (a pneumococcal vaccine) [8]
• The vaccine is priced at $102.03 a vaccine. [7,8]

• • See the CDC’s vaccine price list here: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/cdc-vac-price-list.htm
  • See Pfizer’s contract with the CDC here: www.hhs.gov/open/recordsandreports/prevention/solicitations/pediatr...
  • See the Department of Justice press release about Pfizer here: http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/August/12-crm-980.html

Of course, the above incident is not isolated to Pfizer alone. You can find similar information on Merck, Sanofi, GlaxoSmithKline, and Novartis – all of whom have contracts with the CDC and a presence on the Department of Justice Website.

CAVEAT EMPTOR – BUYER BEWARE!

Pharmaceutical companies have a keen interest in making sure their products are marketed, and either injected into or consumed by your family. The best way to do that is to influence doctors, health administrators, and politicians with money to make exceptions for their products. [1, 3, 4, 9]

At the end of the day, you should know that vaccine manufacturers are not responsible if or when vaccines kill or maim your child! [10]

Parents can ignore the Department of Justice (DOJ) reports at their own peril. If vaccines and pharmaceuticals really were the “Wonder Drugs” they are touted to be, what purposes do Big Pharma have using their money for apparent bribery, including lobbying members of Congress?

Do you think pharmaceutical companies care if you or your children are healthy or not, just as long as they can get government agencies and doctors to keep injecting your child with vaccines that are not tested for safety, non-cancer causing agents, or unknown viruses? And so it will continue – the apparent criminal manipulation of healthcare markets and medical men and women – until you recognize the game for what it really is.

References:

1. http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2012/August/12-crm-980.html
   
2. http://www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa/
3. http://vactruth.com/2012/01/09/document-shows-merck-paid-doctors/
4. http://projects.propublica.org/docdollars/
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milgram_experiment
6. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/hcp/child-adolescent.html
7. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/cdc-vac-price-list.htm
8. www.hhs.gov/open/recordsandreports/prevention/solicitations/pediatr...
9. http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/indusclient.php?id=H04
10. http://www.nvic.org/injury-compensation/origihanlaw.aspx

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