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Scottish ministers and health boards have reached settlement with an international pharmaceutical company of their civil claims for alleged anti-competitive cartel conduct in connection with the supply of drugs to the UK’s NHS.
Goldshield Group Plc, Goldshield Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Forley Generics Ltd have agreed to pay £750,000 in compensation and to provide co-operation in connection with ongoing civil claims, against a number of other firms regarding alleged generic drug price-fixing arrangements.
Goldshield Group, Goldshield Pharmaceuticals and Forley Generics have made this agreement without admitting liability, and this follows a similar settlement already agreed with the Department of Health in England.
Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, said:
“I am delighted that we have managed to reach a settlement agreement with Goldshield. This is a satisfactory conclusion to our negotiations.”
The Chairman of Goldshield Group Plc, Keith Hellawell, said:
“We recognise the importance of building strong working relationships with our customers. We view the NHS as a valued customer and are therefore very pleased with today’s settlement.”
In February 2005, Scottish ministers and 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 warfarin, ranitidine and penicillin-based drugs.
