Florida Oncologist Charged With Medicare Fraud and Buying Cancer Medication from Known Counterfeit Drug Seller
Dr. Anda Norbergs was the head doctor, owner, and operator of East Lake Oncology (ELO), a cancer treatment clinic located in Palm Harbor. Beginning at around June 2009, it is alleged that she began ordering drugs from foreign distributors, including CanadaDrugs subsidiary Quality Specialty Products (QSP). The drugs she purchased included drugs from foreign businesses that had not been registered with or approved by the FDA. The drugs were typically shipped directly to ELO from a location outside the United States, such as the United Kingdom or Canada. The packaging for the drugs clearly demonstrated that they were manufactured and packaged for distribution in foreign countries.
Who: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
When: June 4, 2015, 2009-2012.
Where: Palm Harbor, Florida
How: Investigation by FDA – Office of Criminal Investigations
Additional details:
Related sources:
“Palm Harbor Oncologist Indicted For Buying Unapproved Cancer Medications From Foreign Sources And Defrauding Medicare,” DOJ, June 4, 2015
“ Palm Harbor oncologist accused of deceiving patients, Medicare with unapproved cancer drugs,”
Tampa Bay Times, June 4, 2015
“ Feds: Tampa doctor gave cancer patients unapproved drugs,” The Star. Tampa Bay Sun Sentinel, June 4, 2015
“ Palm Harbor oncologist indicted for giving patients unapproved cancer drugs, defrauding Medicare,” ABC Action News, West Tampa Bay, June 4, 2015
“Palm Harbor doctor indicted for buying unapproved cancer drugs,” WFLA, June 4, 2015
“Re: Purchasing Medications from Foreign or Unlicensed Suppliers Could Result in Serious Harm to Patients; Another Counterfeit Found in U.S. (Warning letter to Dr. Norbergs),” FDA, April 5, 2012