More pharmaceutical firms could be implicated in Chinese bribery scandal
China’s official news agency Xinhua has indicated that more foreign and local pharmaceutical firms could be implicated in the corruption scandal gripping the industry.
This comes amid bribery accusations against GlaxoSmithKline, which is set to report its results at midday today.
It will not be surprising if more pharmaceutical companies and hospitals, domestic or international, are to be involved in probes in the days to come.
Xinhua said that 1,000 doctors, nurses and administrators at 73 hospitals in Zhangzhou city in the province of Fujian had been found taking bribes, and the Chinese government will be trying to clamp down on “malpractice” in the sector.
The following agencies are reportedly taking action: the ministry of public security, the ministry of health, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the State Administration for Industry and Commerce.