Hospitals wont buy drugs from firms on bribery blacklist says China Gov

By Gareth Macdonald

- Last updated on GMT

Related tags People's republic of china Pharmacology China

Hospitals wont buy drugs from firms on bribery blacklist says China Gov
Hospitals wont buy drugs from firms on bribery blacklist says China Gov
Chinese regulators plan to 'blacklist' drugmakers involved in bribery along with those that make 'shoddy' pharmaceuticals.

According to an official policy announcement​, from March 1 China's National Health and Family Planning Commission (NHFPC) - which oversees health services in the country - will publish details of manufacturers and distributors that are "involved in commercial bribery."

Additionally, drugs made by companies listed on the site "will not be accepted by public hospitals or government-funded health institutions in the two years after they are blacklisted​" according to the NHFP which outlined its plans late last week.

The Commission also said it will "crack down on the production and sale of shoddy pharmaceuticals, the illegal use of banned drugs in cosmetics and the illegal sale and manufacturing of medical instruments​" but did not provide additional details.

The decision to name and shame firms involved in bribery and those whose manufacturing practices are not up to code fits with a move outlined by the Chinese Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) in 2012.

Kickback clampdown

In a seperate announcement the NHFPC said that doctors who take kickbacks from pharmaceutical companies will face a range of punishments, which it said is part of an ongoing campaign to improve standards.  

"The move to promote clean work styles among doctors came as part of a more comprehensive campaign against corruption launched by the Communist Party of China at the end of 2012​."

Last year​ a number of Western drugmakers​ were accused of illegally paying Chinese doctors bribes by funnelling money through the Shanghai Linjiang International Travel Agency.

The scandal - which saw UK drug major GSK admit that some of its staff may have acted illegally - prompted a series of ongoing investigations by Chinese authorities and a wider clampdown.

Related news