GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), one of the world’s biggest pharmaceutical companies, said it was looking into the latest claims of improper payments to doctors in Romania, after the company received whistleblower's email, which detailed the scheme, according to news agency Reuters, which saw a copy of the email.

According to the document, GSK paid several doctors in Romania for promoting company’s oncology drugs in speeches. Three out of six doctors held one speech, although they were paid for more. The others three, however, held no speech despite being paid.

GSK also rewarded doctors with many international trips and paid them under the guise of participation in advisory boards, the email said.

GSK, which was fined USD 483 million for similar corruption charges in China, said it was looking into the claims, which referred to the period before December 2013, when the company decided to stop paying doctors.

Large drug producers such as Roche, Pfizer, and GlaxoSmithKline are currently investigated in Romania for rewarding doctors with international trips and luxury holidays if they prescribed certain drugs, according to Romanian anti-corruption prosecutors.

International pharmaceutical groups involved in large corruption scandal in Romania

Romanian doctors, pharma companies, under investigation in trips for cancer drug prescriptions case

editor@romania-insider.com