Mass Arrests In Medical Bribe Case

The entire board of Croatian pharmaceutical company Farmal have been arrested on Monday morning, together with 27 of the companies sales force. They have been charged with giving bribes to general practitioners so that the practitioners when prescribing drugs to patients, would use Farmal products.

The investigation will also focus on around 600 general practitioners around the country who are thought to have been involved in the scheme. Daily newspaper Slobodna Dalmacija says that at least 50 general practitioners will be charged.

German holding company Dermapharm AG acquired a 95-percent share in Farmal, which is based in the north-eastern town Ludbreg, in 2011.