Allegations that pharmaceutical giant
GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) systematically bribed doctors in China are credible, says
an investigator hired by the firm.
Peter Humphrey (above) was hired only to investigate who was
behind a suspected smear campaign against GSK.
But after he finished his report, he learned the
details of further allegations against the firm and told colleagues he believed
they were true.
GSK told the BBC it did not tolerate corruption in
its business.
"We have many policies, procedures and controls
in place to monitor this and take action against any breaches. As we have said
previously, the allegations that have been raised are deeply concerning to us.
We are learning lessons from this situation and we are determined to take all
actions necessary as a result," it said in a statement.
The allegations against GSK's China operation first
emerged in an email in January 2013 from an anonymous and self-styled
whistleblower to the company.
“This investigation did not find evidence to substantiate the
specific allegations made in the emails” GSK statement.
The email, which the BBC has seen, alleges that
GSK's sales teams targeted influential doctors with expensive gifts and cash to
win business.
It also alleges that some doctors were sent on all
expenses-paid holidays masquerading as conferences. The payments were funneled
as fictional expenses through a travel agent.
GSK told the BBC that it had investigated the
allegations using external legal and audit advice.
"Some fraudulent behavior relating to expense
claims was identified, and this resulted in employee dismissals and further
changes to our monitoring procedures in China.
Since the case came to light, four senior GSK
executives have been detained by Chinese police and the former head of GSK
China, Mark Reilly, is also effectively detained. Mr. Humphrey will stand trial
later this year for illegally buying and selling private information.
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