GlaxoSmithKline

China’s Ministry of Public Security said a probe in Changsha, Shanghai and Zhengzhou found that GSK had tried to generate sales and raise drug prices by bribing government officials, pharmaceutical industry associations and foundations, hospitals and doctors.
“Following initial questioning, the suspects have confessed,” the ministry said, adding that the investigation was still in progress. It did not state the number of suspects or their positions in the company.
“There are many suspects, the illegal behaviour continued over a long time and its scale is huge,” the ministry said. The probe had only previously been reported on a microblogging site that referred to Changsha, a provincial capital in central China.
Company staff had issued fake VAT receipts and used travel agents to issue fake documents to gain cash, according to the ministry. Some executives had also taken advantage of their positions to take kickbacks from organising conferences and projects, it said.
GSK, which with other multinationals is under investigation in a separate probe into drug pricing in China, said Thursday’s ministry statement was the first formal communication it had received from the authorities detailing the allegations. The company said it was willing to co-operate with the authorities.
“We continuously monitor our businesses to ensure they meet our strict compliance procedures – we have done this in China and found no evidence of bribery or corruption of doctors or government officials. However, if evidence of such activity is provided we will act swiftly on it,” the company said.

FT

Comentário: A China é dos poucos países com capacidade para confrontar multinacionais como a GSK