Pfizer’s Payments to “Potentially Influential Government Officials” Raise Serious Transparency Concerns
A 2023 whistleblower lawsuit against Pfizer is drawing renewed attention for its allegations that the company made substantial payments to individuals categorized as “Potentially Influential Government Officials” (PIGOs), an issue recently highlighted by Dr. Byram Bridle.
According to reporting at the time, the lawsuit alleged that Pfizer’s financial distributions may have intersected with foreign anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The case focused on payments made across several countries during the period surrounding the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic and leading up to the global rollout of Pfizer’s mRNA injections.
From a Canadian perspective, one detail demands particular scrutiny:
Figures cited in coverage of the lawsuit indicated:
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$168 million allocated to PIGOs in China
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$12 million in the United States
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$11 million in Canada
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$7.5 million in Russia
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$7.1 million in the United Kingdom
While China’s spending received most of the media scrutiny, Pfizer’s reported payments in Canada cannot be ignored.
Canada’s pharmaceutical market and overall economy are significantly smaller than those of the United States. Yet Pfizer’s PIGO-related spending in Canada nearly matched U.S. levels. After adjusting for market size, this raises serious questions about proportionality, influence and intent.
The term “PIGO” itself is deeply revealing, referring to individuals viewed as having potential influence over regulatory frameworks, procurement decisions or public policy.
Such classifications prompt important public-interest questions:
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Who received these payments in Canada?
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For what stated purpose?
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Were disclosures made?
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How are potential conflicts of interest evaluated?
Despite the significance of these issues, publicly accessible databases do not appear to provide clear, searchable records identifying the recipients of Pfizer’s reported PIGO expenditures in Canada. This transparency gap is unacceptable.
Public trust in health institutions depends on openness — especially during a period marked by unprecedented pharmaceutical contracts, emergency authorizations and sweeping public health directives.
If financial relationships existed between pharmaceutical manufacturers and government-connected individuals, Canadians deserve clarity regarding their nature, scope, and oversight.
Mechanisms such as Access to Information and Privacy (ATIP) requests may be required to obtain answers that should already be public.
Source:
Dr. Byram W. Bridle, Covid Chronicles Substack, Potentially Influential Government Officials’ in Canada and China Were Paid Excessively by Pfizer at the Onset of COVID-19 and Up to the Rollout of the Shots
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