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A £2.8 million deal has been agreed between the health service in Scotland and an international drugs group over price-fixing allegations.
Norton Healthcare Limited and Norton Pharmaceuticals settled the civil claim by agreeing to pay Scottish ministers and health boards £2,837,500 in compensation, without admitting liability.
The drugs group agreed to co-operate in connection with continuing civil claims against a number of other drugs companies over alleged price-fixing cartels.
US-based Norton has already settled a similar claims with the Department of Health in England, without admission of liability.
Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon, said: “I am very pleased that the position with Norton has been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties in these proceedings.”
The settlement was made less than two months after the Goldshield Group and two of its companies agreed to pay £750,000 under the same terms.
Goldshield, based in Croydon, Surrey, had reached a £4 million settlement with the Department of Health in England last June.
The then-Scottish Executive launched claims in civil courts in England against a number of companies in February 2005.
The action alleged price-fixing cartels in respect of Warfarin, penicillin-based drugs and Ranitidine.
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