Scotland: Settlement reached over NHS drugs supply
Drugs firm pays £225,000 in settlement over anti-competition allegations.
The Scottish Government reported that it had reached settlement with a pharmaceutical company over alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the supply of drugs to the NHS. OPD Cartons Limited (formerly Kent Pharmaceuticals Limited) has agreed, on a full and final basis, to pay £225,000 in compensation.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, said: "I am pleased that our discussions with Kent have been concluded on a positive note and have resulted in a satisfactory settlement."
Peter MacIntyre, Interim Head of Service at the National Health Service Scotland (NHSS) Counter Fraud Services, added: "This outcome is a welcome one and I am glad that the CFS has played a role in this."
Background
In February 2005, the Scottish Ministers and Scottish Health Boards lodged claims in the civil courts in England against a number of companies, in connection with forming alleged price-fixing cartels in respect of the following generic drugs - Warfarin, Ranitidine and Penicillin-based drugs.
Previous settlements include (without admission of liability):
1. The Goldshield Group Pic, Goldshield Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Forley Generics Ltd (£750,000)
2. Norton Healthcare Limited andNorton Pharmaceuticals Limited (£2,837,500)
3. Generics (UK) Ltd (£2.31million)
4. Ranbaxy (UK) Ltd (£1,057,500)