GlaxoSmithKline Faces Further Bribery Charges

GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is facing further allegations of bribery – this time in Iraq – in addition to the charges levelled against the group last July
in China
.

The latest claims made against the UK’s biggest pharmaceuticals group is that it hired Iraqi government doctors and pharmacists, paying them to act as sales representatives to boost revenues for its medicines improperly.

According to a
Wall Street Journal
report, an employee involved with GSK’s Middle East operations reported the alleged corrupt practices in Iraq – which are said to have begun in 2012 but have continued until now – to executives in the UK. The emails claim that the alleged malpractice violated both the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FATCA) and the UK’s Bribery Act.

“We are investigating allegations of improper conduct in our Iraq business. We have zero tolerance for unethical or illegal behaviour,” a GSK spokesman said. “These allegations relate to a small number of individuals in the country. However, we are investigating whether there has been any improper conduct.”

In China, where an investigation in to the group’s activities continues, GSK’s Chinese sales fell by 61% in Q313 and 18% in Q4 after its offices were raided by Chinese police and staff were arrested.

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