Fined a record-breaking $3 billion in the US for serious violations regarding the promotion of prescription medication to vulnerable patients [including children] - Excuse - "It was all part of an era"
Currently under investigation...
GSK investigated over fraud allegations in China - When the story broke GSK's Andrew Witty had this to say... "there are control mechanisms in place to prevent bribery and other forms of corruption, but that the methods these individuals used “would have been difficult to find using our controls.”
Almost one year later...
GSK's Mark Reilly Accused of Running a "massive bribery network" - Chinese officials investigating claims of bribery and corruption at GlaxoSmithKline's Chinese HQ have accused former head of China operations, Mark Reilly, of "personally running a "massive bribery network"."
Just before this announcement...
GSK - Latest Corruption Scandal In Iraq - The allegations cited include but are not limited to:
Hiring 16 government-employed physicians and pharmacists in Iraq as paid sales representatives for the company while they continued to work for the government.
A government-employed Iraqi emergency-room physician prescribing Glaxo products, even when they weren't in the hospital's pharmacy and a competitor's brand was in stock.
Paying expenses to government-employed doctors to attend international conferences.
Then came...
GSK accused of illegal marketing in Poland - This is what GSK had to say, “Following receipt of allegations regarding the conduct of the programme in the Lodz region, GSK has investigated the matter, using resources from both inside and outside the company. The investigation found evidence of inappropriate communication in contravention of GSK policy by a single employee. The employee concerned was reprimanded and disciplined as a result."
Before the dust could settle...
Jordan and Lebanon - The Next GSK Scandal - GSK has launched an internal investigation into its operations in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Kuwait, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Iraq.
"Sales representatives allegedly bribed doctors in Jordan to prescribe Glaxo drugs by issuing free samples that the doctors were then allowed to sell on, according to the emails.
"Glaxo representatives also allegedly permitted Jordanian doctors to bring their spouses on business trips that Glaxo paid for, according to the emails. Doctors were issued with business-class tickets to attend conferences but would exchange them at travel agencies for two economy-class tickets, allowing their spouses or other family members to come along free, a practice local Glaxo employees were aware of, according to the emails."
And now...
GSK faces serious fraud investigation in Britain - Britain's Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has launched a formal criminal investigation into GlaxoSmithKline Plc, posing a new challenge to the drugmaker, which already faces allegations of bribery in China and elsewhere.
Britain's biggest pharmaceuticals company said it had been informed on Tuesday that the SFO had "opened a formal criminal investigation into the group's commercial practices".
GSK said it would cooperate fully but gave no further details in a brief statement. A company spokesman declined to elaborate.
So, let's see.
GSK have issued a press release regarding the latest fraud allegations in the UK.
The company said it would "co-operate fully" with the SFO.
Um... I don't think you have much say in the matter!
GSK – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.
It's about time they changed the company tagline, doncha think?
Bob Fiddaman
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