简体中文
Chinese authorities have launched an investigation against French drugmaker Sanofi...
After a report accused the company of bribing more than 500 Chinese doctors in 2007.
An official of the Beijing municipal health bureau told CNC on Saturday that they will coordinate with the disciplinary authorities to investigate the case.
The Guangzhou-based 21st Century Business Herald reported on Thursday that according to an anonymous whistleblower the French drugmaker paid bribes to more than 500 doctors at 79 hospitals in late 2007 as "research grants".
The total amount of bribe is reported to be more than 270,000 U.S.dollars.
There is no official response from Sanofi on their website, but according to the 21st Century Business Herald, Sanofi said in a statement that it took the claim "very seriously" and has begun relevant procedures to investigate the allegations.
Hospitals named in the media report, including Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, have yet to comment.
Some experts say the key issue to the case is how to define the boundary between a "clinical research grant" and bribery.
The investigation of Sanofi comes amid a crackdown by China's drug regulator on misconduct in the country's pharmaceutical market.
Since early July this year, the Chinese authorities have started investigation to British pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline for suspected bribery and tax-related offenses.
