SHANGHAI, July 22 (Reuters) - A senior executive fromGlaxoSmithKline told Chinese police the Britishdrugmaker will reform its business in the country in the wake ofa bribery scandal, China's Ministry of Public Security said onMonday.
It said GSK's president for emerging markets, Abbas Hussain,made the pledge in a meeting with ministry officials. Britain'sbiggest drugmaker has sent Hussain to China to deal with thescandal.
"Hussain apologised on behalf of GSK and said GSK will fullysupport the Chinese government's resolution to root outcorruption and will actively reform GSK's original business andoperating procedures in China," the ministry said in astatement.
Police last week accused GSK of bribing officials anddoctors to boost sales and raise the price of its medicines inChina. They said GSK transferred up to 3 billion yuan ($489million) to 700 travel agencies and consultancies over six yearsto facilitate the bribes.
GSK said it was deeply concerned by the allegations, whichit called "shameful".
The ministry, which urged GSK to take "responsibility" forthe scandal, cited a statement from GSK as saying four detainedChinese executives from the drugmaker were able to break the lawbecause they knew the company's internal systems so well.
GSK officials were not immediately available to comment onthe ministry statement. It was unclear if the statement theministry cited was one GSK had released or was just madeavailable to police.
Hussain was dispatched to China by Chief Executive AndrewWitty, along with the group's global head of internal audit anda senior legal official, a person familiar with the matter saidon Friday.