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NHS drugs supply
29/10/2009
The Scottish Government has 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 NHS Scotland Counter Fraud Services, added: "This outcome is a welcome one and I am glad that the CFS has played a role in this."
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 without admission of liability settlements:
1. The Goldshield Group Plc, Goldshield Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Forley Generics Ltd (£750,000)
2. Norton Healthcare Limited and Norton Pharmaceuticals Limited (£2,837,500)
3. Generics (UK) Ltd (£2.31million)
4. Ranbaxy (UK) Ltd (£1,057,500)