Justice Department sues drug maker for paying doctors kickbacks

The US Justice Department on Friday accused drug maker Novartis of paying kickbacks to doctors to prescribe the company's drugs over others.

In the second US action against the Swiss firm this week, the Justice Department said Novartis had boosted sales of its expensive brand-name drugs with incentives for prescribing doctors that were ultimately paid for by public health care programs.

[Doctor holding pill bottle with dollar sign via Shutterstock]