Fabrikant van medische hulpmiddelen

Fabrikant van medische hulpmiddelen Medtronic erkent betrokken te zijn geweest bij illegale betalingen aan Belgische artsen. Dat blijkt uit een recente uitspraak van de kantonrechter in Breda. Het concern raakte eerder in opspraak wegens controversiële beloningen voor medisch specialisten die Medtronic-producten gebruiken bij de behandeling van hun patiënten.

Beeld: Thinkstock
Uit het vonnis blijkt dat Medtronic de directeur die verantwoordelijk was voor de ‘spine business’ in de Benelux vorige maand ontsloeg, na een onderzoek naar onethische zakelijke praktijken. Volgens de onderneming wees dat onderzoek uit dat de man verantwoordelijk was voor illegale betalingen aan Belgische artsen.

Met een omzet van ruim 16 miljard dollar is Medtronic een van de grootste producenten van medische hulpmiddelen en implantaten ter wereld. Met ruim 3 miljard omzet is de divisie ‘Spinal and Biologics’ een van de belangrijkste bedrijfsonderdelen van het concern. In België verkoopt Medtronic jaarlijks voor 25 miljoen euro aan producten die worden gebruikt bij medische ingrepen rond de ruggenwervel.


Ongepaste stimulansen

Uit het vonnis blijkt dat Medtronic onder de verantwoordelijkheid van de directeur aan bepaalde artsen trainingsactiviteiten betaalde, die niet betaald hadden mogen worden. In werkelijkheid waren deze betalingen ‘ongepaste stimulansen’. De trainingsactiviteiten vonden niet plaats, of werden slechts deels uitgevoerd. De betalingen hadden betrekking op een percentage van de via deze artsen behaalde omzet.

Volgens Medtronic hield de manager zich niet aan de interne gedragsregels, en handelde hij in strijd met algemene anticorruptiewetten. Het concern wijst onder meer op artikel 10 in de Belgische Wet op de geneesmiddelen, dat verbiedt om ‘in het kader van het voorschrijven, afleveren of toedienen van geneesmiddelen of medische hulpmiddelen, direct of indirect premies of voordelen in geld of natura (…) toe te kennen aan beroepsbeoefenaars uit de gezondheidssector’.


Bedrijfscultuur

De manager zelf beweert dat hij slechts uitvoering gaf aan bestaande regelingen, en stelt dat die onderdeel waren van de bedrijfscultuur. Ook hoger geplaatste managers zouden van dit ‘historisch wanbeleid’ op de hoogte zijn geweest. Medtronic ontkent dat de betalingen in België onderdeel zijn van een ‘verziekte bedrijfscultuur’, maar weigerde tijdens de rechtszaak het onderzoeksrapport naar de affaire in te brengen. Omdat de rechtbank daardoor geen volledig oordeel over de verwijtbaarheid kon vellen, veroordeelde ze Medtronic tot het betalen van een schadevergoeding van 90.000 euro aan de ontslagen manager.

Resultaten (Engels) 1:

Manufacturer of medical devices Medtronic acknowledges to have been involved in illegal payments to Belgian doctors. This is shown by a recent ruling of the District Court in Breda. The Group hit earlier in the talk of the town because of controversial rewards for medical specialists that Medtronic products use in the treatment of their patients.Image: ThinkstockFrom the verdict shows that Medtronic spine the Director who was responsible for the ' business ' in the Benelux, dismissed last month after an investigation into unethical business practices. According to the company designated that research that the man was responsible for illegal payments to Belgian doctors.With sales of over 16 billion dollar Medtronic is one of the largest producers of medical devices and implants in the world. With more than 3 billion in sales is the Division ' Spinal and Biologics ' one of the main business units of the group. In Belgium Medtronic annually sells for 25 million euros in products used in medical procedures around the spine.Inappropriate incentivesFrom the verdict shows that Medtronic under the responsibility of the Director paid to certain doctors training activities, which had not paid may be. In reality, these payments were ' inappropriate incentives '. The training activities did not take place, or were only partially performed. The payments were related to a percentage of the turnover through this doctors.According to Medtronic held the manager do not comply with the internal rules of conduct, and he acted in violation of general anti-corruption laws. The group designates, inter alia, on article 10 in the Belgian law on medicines, which prohibits ' in the context of prescribing, issuing or administration of drugs or medical devices, directly or indirectly, premiums or benefits in money or in kind (...) to healthcare professionals '.Corporate cultureThe manager himself claims that he only executed gave to any existing rules, and argues that those were part of the corporate culture. Also higher placed managers would this ' historical mismanagement ' on have been aware. Medtronic denies that the payments in Belgium are part of a diseased ' corporate culture ', but declined during the court case the research report to the affair. Because the court thereby no full assessment of the reproach could check sheets, they condemned Medtronic to pay damages of 90000 euros to the fired manager.

Resultaten (Engels) 2:

Medical device manufacturer Medtronic acknowledged having been involved in illegal payments to Belgian doctors. According to a recent ruling by the Court in Breda. The group became rather discredited because controversial remuneration for medical specialists using Medtronic products for the treatment of their patients. Picture: Thinkstock The verdict shows that Medtronic, the director responsible for the "spine business' in the UK last month sacked After an investigation of unethical business practices. According to the research company pointed out that the man was responsible for illegal payments to doctors in Belgium. With a turnover of over 16 billion dollars Medtronic is one of the largest producers of medical devices and implants in the world. With over 3 billion in revenue, the division 'Spinal and Biologics' one of the major business units of the group. In Belgium sells Medtronic annually 25 million of products used in medical procedures around the spine. Inappropriate incentives The verdict shows that Medtronic is the responsibility of the director of training activities to certain doctors paid that should not have been paid. In reality, these payments were "inappropriate incentives. The training activities did not take place, or were only partially performed. Payments related to a percentage of the turnover generated by these doctors. According to Medtronic not the manager stuck to the internal codes of conduct, and he acted contrary to general anti-corruption laws. The group points out, inter alia, Article 10 of the Belgian Medicines Act, which prohibits' in the context of the prescription, dispense or administer drugs or medical devices, directly or indirectly, premiums or benefits in cash or kind (...) to indicated to professionals in the health sector. "Corporate culture The manager himself claims he only gave effect to the existing rules, and states that those were part of the corporate culture. Also, senior managers would have been this "historic mismanagement" informed. Medtronic denies that the payments in Belgium are part of a diseased culture ', but declined to introduce at trial the investigation into the affair. Because the district court therefore no complete assessment of the culpability could sheets, they condemned Medtronic to pay a compensation of 90,000 euros to the sacked manager.

Resultaten (Engels) 3:

manufacturer of medical devices medtronic admits to have been involved in illegal payments to belgian doctors. according to a recent decision of the district court in breda. the company was previously compromised due to controversial rewards for medical specialists medtronic products for use in the treatment of their patients. thinkstock

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