Fines for Illegal Rebates
The Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has slapped a fine of 240 million won on KyungDong Pharm for providing rebates to doctors through golf entertainment to drive drug sales.
The drugmaker provided unfair economic benefits, such as paying golf expenses worth about 1.22 billion won, to doctors at hospitals and clinics from February 2018 to October 2021 to promote its drugs, the FTC said on Nov. 20.
KyungDong Pharm also made golf reservations for them by obtaining golf course memberships.
The FTC judged that the company hindered fair trade order in the market by making the doctors prescribe its medicines through unfair golf entertainment.
Choi Moon-hee
pr@businesskorea.co.kr