In wake of bribery allegations, China pharma industry reforms urged

Following the revelation of further details regarding alleged financial violations by UK pharma giant GlaxoSmithKline (LSE: GSK) and other multinationals in China (The Pharma Letter September 3), local experts have called for reforms of public hospitals and more legislation on the pharmaceutical industry, reports the China Daily.

"There are no regulations guiding how a drugmaker should promote a new product to hospitals and doctors. The doctors learned their knowledge at medical schools years ago, and they do not know about the latest developments in pharmacology," said Wang Yaoguang, director of the pharmaceutical law institute at Tsinghua University.

Mr Wang said the solution to the problem lies in the establishment of an industry regulation that guides the drug purchases of hospitals, enabling an open channel through which drug companies can pitch their products.