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Questionable deals with generics manufacturer “Sandoz”, two laboratory companies, and the leading drug dealer “Galexis”: SRF Investigativ have explosive documents on the business of doctor Thomas Haehner.
A bank receipt shows in black and white: the generics manufacturer “Sandoz” transferred CHF 67,000 to the doctor chain operator Thomas Haehner three years ago. The parent company “Novartis” writes SRF Investigativ: “The payment is the consideration for the provision of advertising space for screens and patient materials in the waiting rooms of the doctor’s network. With such contractual agreements, which are customary in the Swiss industry, there is the possibility of generally drawing attention to generics.”
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Credit from «Sandoz»
“Novartis” transfers CHF 67,312.50 for advertising in the waiting room of doctor’s surgeries on behalf of the subsidiary “Sandoz”.
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“Novartis” continues to write that such agreements meet the legal requirements. They would be negotiated annually.
“Compensation is not allowed”
“The pharmaceutical industry seems to have a different legal opinion of a fact that is clear in itself,” says “Helsana” expert Ivan Tomka. A doctor must always act independently of financial advantages and prefer a generic drug to the original drug.
“This means that compensation for the advertising and sale of generics is not permitted,” says Tomka. And: It is not permitted to offer and accept inadmissible financial advantages. Thomas Haehner replies that these contracts have been legally checked. The Federal Office of Public Health writes on request that it will investigate this matter “in depth” and take the necessary measures.
«Grotesque attempt at concealment»
Thomas Haehner’s company also does business with laboratory companies: he sends the blood analyzes from his practices to the large laboratory “Labor Team W”. In autumn 2020, this paid the doctor’s joint-stock company CHF 58,000, as can be seen from documents available to SRF Investigativ. Namely for a 20-year-old X-ray system that is in his practice in Freidorf TG.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asks social insurance expert Ueli Kieser. He suspects a “grotesque attempt to conceal” an improper financial advantage.
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Invoice for old X-ray machine
Raise questions: “Viamedica AG”, Thomas Haehner’s company, charged a laboratory for a 20-year-old X-ray system. The amortized device is still in the “Drei Birken” practice in Freidorf TG.
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Invoice for acquisition of a practice
Thomas Haehner bills the laboratory for taking over practices.
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SRF Investigative has a bill that Thomas Haehner presented to the “Synlab Suisse” laboratory. The doctor billed the laboratory for the acquisition costs for taking over the practice in Altenwil FR and Oberkirch LU, each at around CHF 27,000. “That’s not allowed, says Helsana expert Ivan Tomka. “Services that a doctor provides for himself must not be compensated.” The laboratory writes: “Synlab states that it cannot comment on specific customer relationships. ‘Synlab’ follows the applicable legal principles at all times and bases its actions on the FAMH Labor Code. ‘Synlab’ checked the incoming invoices and cash flows again in detail during the period in question. The invoices you mentioned were never accepted by the accounting department and were therefore never paid.”
Haehner owes a drug dealer more than six million francs
In a PR article, doctor Thomas Haehner enthuses about a “really great partner”. He means drug dealer “Galexis”. This supplies his practices with remedies. The business relationship must be close. Because evidence shows: Thomas Haehner has outstanding invoices of over 6 million francs at “Galexis”.
There are strikes that go back to 2020. Nevertheless, “Galexis” continued to supply him with medicines. The company writes that they are aware of the outstanding bills, but “Galexis” is an important link in medical care.
Hidden financial interests?
“I can’t understand why a company is still supplying the doctor despite such high outstanding payments,” says “Helsana” expert Ivan Tomka. “The question arises whether there are hidden interests at work in the background.” An evaluation by the cash register shows: Haehner’s practices sell a lot more medicines compared to economical general practitioners’ practices.
“It seems to me that something is hidden under every stone in this construct that is not permissible,” says “Helsana” expert Tomka. “We will look very closely here and, if necessary, take legal action.” Doctor Haehner rejects the allegations: The contracts are permissible and legally checked.