The Competition Commission has, according to the DA, agreed to conduct a preliminary investigation into alleged anti-competitive behaviour by pharmaceutical company, Aspen Pharmacare.
This followed a complaint by the Democratic Alliance MP and spokesperson on Health, Dr Wilmot James.
In a statement Sunday Dr James said that “the DA welcomes the Competition Commission’s (CC) decision to take up the DA’s request to investigate the alleged anti-competitive conduct of Aspen Pharmacare, on its preliminary investigation into the pharmaceutical sector.”
“Media reports last week both locally and internationally, detailed how staff at Aspen Pharmacare allegedly conspired to dispose of life-saving cancer medicine in order to boost their price across Europe,” Dr James said.
He said the DA was concerned that the same practices may have been employed here in South Africa and “therefore believe it is important that any possible anti-competitive behaviour, which would push up the price of medication for our people, must be fully investigated.”
“If these allegations are true and seriously ill patients have been exploited for financial gains, those responsible must be held accountable,” Dr James said.
He said DA believed that this preliminary investigation is the first step in combatting the unethical practice of exploiting sick patients.
Aspen Pharmacare declined to comment on the DA statement.
