LONDON (dpa-AFX) - GlaxoSmithKline PLC. is reducing its employees in China, the Wall Street Journal reported citing a person familiar with the matter, as the company grapples with Beijing's accusations that it bribed doctors and officials to boost sales.
Quoting the person, the Journal said that the company has terminated employees in China in recent months following increased monitoring of employee expense claims. However, it is not clear how many employees have been let go. The company employs about 7,000 people in the country.
Last summer, Chinese officials alleged that the company employees held fake conferences and funneled the money for expenses as bribes for doctors, hospital administrators and government officials to prescribe more drugs. Glaxo said some senior executives may have violated Chinese laws and that the company was cooperating with Chinese authorities in the investigation.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Glaxosmithkline (GSK)