But the financial support is contrary to the rules of the pharmaceutical industry, which must ensure that politicians are not unduly affected by special interests.
Therefore, Orifarm now has the prospect of a fine.
This is what Rikke Bækgaard Thomassen, head of the secretariat of the Ethics Board for the Pharmaceutical Industry, tells Politiken.
According to the head of the secretariat, it is very clear from the pharmaceutical industry’s lobby code that companies and company representatives must not in any way provide financial support or sponsorships to decision makers.
When it comes to significant support, the fine will typically be between 75,000 and 150,000 kroner, says Rikke Bækgaard Thomassen.
Even though Troels Lund Poulsen has not violated the rules for party support because the name of the sponsor is stated, it is still problematic that he has received the money.
This is the assessment of Mats Lindberg, who is a specialist in emergency medicine and chairman of the association Doctors Without Sponsor.
– It is serious when the money comes from a company whose earnings are greatly affected by political decisions. Even if the politicians want to reject it, the party support can create a kind of dependence on the industry, he says to Politiken.
While it has not been possible for the newspaper to get a comment from Troels Lund Poulsen, the CEO of Orifarm, Erik Sandberg, admits that mistakes have been made.
He says that Orifarm, which is Denmark’s largest supplier of medicines, has not been aware of a possible breach of the lobbying code.
Following Politiken’s inquiry, the Liberal Party has chosen to repay the money from Orifarm, “so that there will be no trouble”.
Source: The Nordic Page