Drug firm Glaxo faces a bribery probe in Poland
GLAXOSMITHKLINE is facing a criminal investigation in Poland for allegedly bribing doctors to promote one of its drugs, it emerged yesterday.
The FTSE 100-quoted pharmaceuticals giant has already been accused of corruption in China and Iraq.
The case was highlighted by BBC Panorama, which said the probe involved 11 doctors and a GSK regional manager, charged with alleged corruption over a respiratory drug programme between 2010 and 2012.
“Following receipt of allegations in 2011 regarding the conduct of the programme in the Lodz region, GSK has investigated the matter, using resources from both inside and outside the company,” said the pharma giant in a statement.
“The investigation found evidence of inappropriate communication in contravention of GSK policy by a single employee.
“The employee concerned was reprimanded and disciplined in 2011.”
GSK said it continues to investigate the case and is co-operating fully with Poland’s central anti-corruption bureau, the CBA.
The company is making changes to its business, including opening up access to its clinical trial data, changing how it pays its sales representatives and stopping payments to healthcare professionals for speaking engagements and for attendance at medical conferences.
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