Home Complaints database Gresea & Transparency International Germany vs Ratiopharm
Complaint

Gresea & Transparency International Germany vs Ratiopharm

Ratiopharm’s unethical marketing in Germany, Belgium et al

Date filed
24 January 2008
Keywords
Countries of harm
Current status
Rejected
Sector
NCP

Allegations

Ratiopharm, a pharmaceuticals company and major producer of generic drugs, has allegedly engaged in unethical marketing practices, including bribing doctors and pharmacists in Belgium, Canada, Spain, Estonia and Germany.

Relevant OECD Guidelines

Outcome

The first case by TI-G was rejected on the basis of a lack of transnational investment. In December 2006, the German NCP rejected the second complaint against Ratiopharm, arguing that the complaint would have to be dealt with by the NCPs of the countries where the alleged misbehaviour occurred, i.e. Belgium, Canada, Estonia, and Spain. TI-G and the NCP met informally in March 2007. Again, the NCP insisted it could not accept the Ratiopharm case and refused to forward it to the relevant NCPs. The NCP claimed its “hands were tied”. TI-G maintains that the alleged misbehaviour emanates from Ratiopharm’s German headquarters to other countries and that the German NCP should therefore take the lead in handling the complaint. In addition, the NCP’s refusal to forward the case to the other relevant NCPs inspires little faith in the German NCP’s offer to assist informally.

A third case was filed by GRESEA and TI-G in January 2008 at the Belgian NCP. On 29 February 2008, the NCP invited the complainants to an informal preliminary meeting. At the NCP’s request, the complainants provided supplemental information including testimonies from Belgian pharmacists and the state of national regulation in the sector. However, on 4 July 2008, the Belgian NCP rejected the complaint, claiming that the alleged violations are commonplace in the generic drugs sector and thus not specific to this company. The NCP further argued that the law does not define the meaning of ‘normal rebates’, but did state that that the sheer ‘magnitude of the rebates do raise questions regarding the price-setting of refundable generic drugs and the reimbursement system as a whole.’ The complainants believe that the case should be the starting point of a wider public debate on the issue.

More details

Defendant
Company in violation
Complainants
Affected people
Other NCP's where the complaint was filed
Date rejected / concluded
4 July 2008

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