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