China will intensify its investigation of corruption in the health
sector with the launch of new investigations, reported the official news agency
New China.
The investigation by the Public
Administration for Industry and Commerce (SAIC), one of the regulators of the Chinese market, is expected to put an end to
corruption and other fraudulent practices in different sectors. "Corruption
in business is not only consequence of artificially inflated prices, it
endangers the functioning of markets (...) and corrupts social ethics and
professionalism," said the agency. SAIC impose severe sanctions in proven cases of corruption
involving tenders for drugs and medical services because it harms the interests
of the Chinese people, she added.
The powerful National Commission for
Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is already investigating the practices
of 60 local and foreign pharmaceutical companies on prices. It also
investigates other markets such as milk powder, jewelery and auto sales. In the
pharmaceutical sector, the Chinese police accused GlaxoSmithKline of
embezzlement. The British group has admitted that some of the Chinese leaders
had seemed to violate the law. The Chinese authorities have also launched an investigation
into Sanofi, suspected of distributing bribes, kickbacks - charges that the
French group takes "very seriously."
Investigation of SAIC will also questionable
business practices of car dealers, placement agencies and real estate agencies,
adds new China.
