Beijing has taken the first step to extend its probe of pharmaceutical corruption in China to domestic drug companies, with state television broadcasting claims that a Chinese drug company bribed doctors with overseas trips.
Chia Tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical Group said yesterday it had set up a team to investigate allegations in a report by CCTV that sales teams based in the eastern province of Jiangsu treated doctors to free travel to Thailand and Taiwan in return for their attendance at an hour-long information session about their drugs. The company is 60 per cent owned by Hong Kong-listed Sino Biopharmaceutical.
It was the first time that Chinese official media had named a local company in connection with alleged pharmaceutical corruption.