Authors: Aaron GU丨Sophie SHI丨Pengfei YOU丨Duzhiyun ZHENG丨Fengqi YU[1]
Recently, China's healthcare industry has been subject to a rigorous inspection and rectification initiatives focusing on anti-corruption. These initiatives have attracted widespread attention in the industry, and we have received numerous media and customer inquiries regarding such issues. Based on our observations, this round of anti-corruption initiatives is not short-term with respect to its duration or effect, but is intended to be an in-dept rectification project lasting for at least one year with inspections and enforcement to be carried out in a more regular manner at a later stage. The direct goal of these anti-corruption initiatives is to purge some entrenched, corrupt unlawful activities in China's healthcare industry, and the vision is to lead the industry towards healthier development. In response to the industry's various concerns, and in order to help the industry better understand the regulatory spirit and requirements and to assist companies in reassessing and planning their compliance plans, this article summarizes for our readers the key takeaways of this round of anti-corruption initiatives into "10 Q&As". (Please find the Chinese version of the 10 Q&As at the following link: 《汉坤·观点 | 重磅:2023年医药反腐热点“十问十答”》. )
"Top 10 Questions" on the 2023 China healthcare industry anti-corruption initiatives:
1. What are the background and main characteristics of this round of anti-corruption initiatives in the healthcare industry?
2. What are the regulatory focuses on anti-corruption in the healthcare industry?
3. How should companies react to these anti-corruption initiatives?
4. What are the legal consequences for bribery?
5. What key compliance issues should pre-IPO healthcare companies pay attention to?
6. Is it still compliant to hold academic conferences in the medical field?
7. How can medical representatives conduct business activities compliantly?
8. What key compliance issues should companies be aware of when interacting with industry associations and hospitals?
9. What are the causes of and the solutions for corruption in the healthcare industry?
10. What are the impacts on the industry of this year's anti-corruption initiatives and the suggestions to the companies for future development?
I. What are the background and main characteristics of this round of anti-corruption initiatives in the healthcare industry?
The healthcare industry has always been an industry subject to strict anti-corruption supervision and enforcement, and the determination shown this time is even greater than before. Based on our observations, the context of this round of anti-corruption initiatives are quite clear. At the beginning of 2023, President Xi Jinping emphasized at the second plenary session of the 20th Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) that the situation of anti-corruption is severe and complicated, special rectification should be carried out on relatively prominent industry-specific and systemic corruption issues, forming a deterrent force that makes relevant subjects "dare not corrupt", a constraining force that makes relevant subjects "cannot corrupt", and an inspiring force that makes relevant subjects "not want to corrupt". Under the guidance of Xi Jinping's important speech, this round of anti-corruption initiatives in the healthcare industry is progressing in an orderly manner. On May 11, 14 national ministries and commissions jointly issued the Key Points of Work on Rectifying Misconduct in the Fields of Medical Product Purchase and Distribution and Medical Services in 2023 ("Key Work Points 2023"), deploying the key issues for rectifying prominent corruption issues in the healthcare industry. On July 21, the National Health Commission held a video conference with nine ministries, including the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Public Security, to deploy a one-year-long nationwide concentrated rectification of corruption in the healthcare industry. On July 28, the CCDI and the National Supervisory Commission (NSC) held a kickoff meeting to deploy the disciplinary and supervisory organs to coordinate the rectification work. According to the deployment, each province shall formulate local anti-corruption initiative plans and actively promote various concentrated rectification work.
In this round of anti-corruption initiatives in the healthcare industry, law enforcement has the following distinct characteristics, which deserve the attention of all types of industry participants. First, the CCDI and the NSC play an important role in this round of anti-corruption initiatives. Given that the CCDI and the NSC are relatively independent of the healthcare system in departmental status and functions, the involvement of the CCDI and the NSC and their cooperation in carrying out rectification work will expand the law enforcement capacity and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement outside of key regulatory departments in the medical field, such as the National Health Commission. Second, the initiatives aim to achieve system-wide rectification fully covering the healthcare industry. The supervisory key issues of this round of anti-corruption initiatives cover the entire chain of manufacturing, distribution, sales, use, reimbursement in the healthcare industry, as well as regulatory departments, industry (academic) associations, health institutions, pharmaceutical and device companies ("Healthcare Companies"), and medical insurance funds. Third, this round of anti-corruption initiatives pays particular attention to "key persons" and key positions. While promoting the professional ethics of primary healthcare workers and other industry practitioners, this round of anti-corruption has focused on making critical breakthroughs on key issues involving the "key persons" and key positions, concentrating on investigating and closing a batch of corruption cases to make a noticeable impact. Fourth, this round of anti-corruption initiatives further clarifies the compliance requirements of the healthcare industry. For instance, the Key Work Points 2023 require focusing on the supervision of various industry (academic) associations conducting activities related to the illegal transfer of benefits.
II. What are the regulatory focuses on anti-corruption in the healthcare industry?
The key issues of anti-corruption compliance in the healthcare industry cover the whole industry chain. We have summarized a corresponding compliance risk map as follows:
In addition, the Key Work Points 2023 outline several key issues of supervision for the anti-corruption initiatives, which industry participants should pay attention to. The supervision key issues include but are not limited to the following:
Improper intervention in the administrative approvals of the setting up of institutions, such as third-party medical examination institutions and aesthetic / dental institutions, and diagnosis and treatment subjects;
Industry (academic) associations transfer improper benefits under the guise of academic conferences and donations;
Healthcare companies, distributors, and medical representatives provide illicit benefits such as kickbacks;
Medical institutions refuse or indirectly refuse to implement centralized procurement results;
Doctors forcefully recommend third-party services such as gene testing and external drug purchase, illegally take profits from prescriptions, or improperly refer patients.
III. Question 3: How should companies react to these anti-corruption initiatives?
Despite the anti-corruption initiatives' focus on enforcement against "key persons" and key positions, we understand that healthcare companies remain key enforcement targets because, over the years, they continue to be major targets for inspection for wrongful practices with respect to the fields of medical services and medical procurement and sales. Therefore, we suggest companies proactively respond to these anti-corruption initiatives and actively realize compliance management in their business operations.
1. Company self-inspection
Firstly, companies can actively promote self-regulation and self-inspection to counter corruption and bribery. With law enforcement actions becoming more frequent and normalized, company compliance management becomes more critical in business operations. Hence, we suggest companies conduct compliance self-inspections, including but not limited to the following aspects:
Spot and grasp risk points in projects and business models concerned in these initiatives in accordance with laws, regulations, and their existing internal control systems, which may help improve cooperation with and response to potential inspections and law enforcement;
Recognize and take stop-loss actions against potentially non-compliant or high-risk businesses or projects. Companies should cease ongoing high-risk activities or projects in a timely manner and actively implement corrective measures; and
Adjust and rectify business models with high compliance risks to avoid recurring non-compliance. This may assist in reducing future risks and losses.
Second, companies can actively conduct internal training against bribery and corruption. We suggest these trainings cover content and interpretation of relevant laws, regulations and policies of anti-corruption, anti-bribery, the relevant corporate internal control systems, as well as relevant "dos and don'ts" for employees in their daily business activities to avoid engaging in improper benefit transfers.
Third, companies can establish and improve internal control systems including relevant policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs). In addition to internal control documents regarding general business ethics and anti-corruption and anti-bribery requirements, companies also need to prepare separate standard procedures for certain sensitive daily business activities such as hospitality, interactions with healthcare professionals (HCPs), and holding or sponsoring academic conferences to prevent potential improper benefits transfer. Based on our experience, if the regulatory authorities uncover non-compliance during their inspections, they might examine the construction and execution of the company's internal compliance systems to determine whether such non-compliance stems from company-wide non-compliance or individual employees' wrongful behavior. Therefore, healthcare companies should also continually pay attention to key issues of anti-corruption and anti-bribery and improve corresponding policies and SOPs.
2. Cooperating with and responding to on-site investigations
We understand that regulatory authorities might conduct unexpected or unannounced on-site investigations on healthcare companies based on the leads or clues obtained regarding matters of anti-corruption and anti-bribery. If authorities carry out an on-site investigation, a company should:
Arrange appropriate personnel to receive and courteously cooperate with the investigation carried out by the authorities;
Provide the documents and information requested by the authorities without deliberately obstructing or destroying relevant materials;
Answer the authorities' questions honestly, avoiding offering false or misleading responses as well as guesses or subjective conjecture;
Arrange or hire specialized internal or external counsels to assist cooperating with and responding to the investigation and handle subsequent follow-ups.
3. Compliance in daily business operations
From a long-term perspective, with the deepening of the anti-corruption initiatives by the authorities, the anti-corruption regulation and enforcement on healthcare companies will become more "systematic, standardized, and normalized". The authorities will have more concrete and stricter requirements for the compliance management of healthcare companies. Therefore, healthcare companies should also adapt to the trend of tightening the compliance management, actively review and adjust their business models, daily business processes and employee behaviors, and ensure that the activities of the companies and employees comply with relevant laws, regulations, and internal control requirements.
IV. What are the legal consequences for bribery?
Bribery is an unlawful and even criminal act explicitly prohibited by Chinese law. Anti-corruption and anti-bribery are compliance baselines that all individuals and entities including companies and public institutions in the healthcare industry must abide by. Engaging in bribery not only could potentially trigger administrative liabilities, but if the thresholds for criminal charges are met, it could also trigger more severe criminal liabilities.
As for administrative liabilities, the authorities can investigate and penalize healthcare companies' bribery in the procurement and sales of drugs in accordance with the Drug Administration Law. Also, they could investigate healthcare companies' bribery behaviors in accordance with the Anti-Unfair Competition Law. The specifics are as follows:
Laws and Regulations |
Wrongful Acts |
Legal Consequences |
Drug Administration Law Article 88 and Article 141 |
Giving monies or other improper benefits to person(s)-in-charge of medical institutions, drug procurement staff, physicians, pharmacists etc. |
Include confiscating illegal proceeds, imposing a fine of RMB 300,000 to 3 million, revoking qualifications, and imposing a lifetime ban on responsible personnel. |
Anti-Unfair Competition Law Article 7 and Article 19 |
Using bribes or other means to bribe employees of the counterparty, units or individuals entrusted to handle affairs, units, or individuals with authority or influence, to seek trading opportunities or competitive advantages. |
Include confiscating illegal proceeds, imposing a fine of RMB 100,000 to 3 million, and revoking business licenses. |
In terms of criminal liability, corporate bribery can potentially constitute different crimes depending on the targets of the bribery. If court determines that the company engaged in criminal bribery, the corresponding criminal liability would include imposing a fine on the company; the directly responsible individual in charge of the company and other directly responsible individuals may be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment or detention of not more than ten years, and imposed fines, etc. The crimes related to corporate bribery are as follows:
Bribery Target |
Entity Crime |
Individual Crime |
State Functionaries, including but not limited to the authority and law enforcement officers, some public hospital doctors |
A393 Crime of Offering Bribes by an Entity |
A389 Crime of Offering Bribes |
Close relatives or closely related individuals of (retired) State Functionaries |
A390 Crime of Offering Bribes to Influential People |
A390 Crime of Offering Bribes to Influential People |
Entities, including public institutions (such as public hospitals) and state-owned companies |
A391 Crime of Offering Bribes to an Entity |
A391 Crime of Offering Bribes to an Entity |
Employees of the distributors and other business partners |
A164 Crime of Offering Bribes to Non-state Functionary |
A164 Crime of Offering Bribes to Non-state Functionary |
V. What key compliance issues should pre-IPO healthcare companies pay attention to?
Recently, the Shanghai Stock Exchange ("SSE") and the Beijing Stock Exchange ("BSE") respectively released their highlights on the regulatory compliance of sales and promotional activities carried out by pre-IPO healthcare companies. The stock exchanges emphasized the duty of intermediaries to verify key issues and to supervise issuers' full disclosure, thereby demonstrating their focus on compliance of sales and promotion activities of pre-IPO healthcare companies.
Stock Exchange |
Major Aspects |
Key Review Items |
SSE |
Compliance of Promotional Activities |
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Authenticity and Completeness of Expenses Incurred in Promotional Activities |
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Effectiveness of Internal Control Systems Related to Promotional Activities |
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Fairness of Related Transactions between Distributors, Promotional Service Providers, and the Issuer and its Affiliates |
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BSE |
Soundness and Effectiveness of Internal Control Systems Authenticity and Reasonableness of Abnormal Promotional Business Occurrences Effective Supervision on Abnormal Fund Flows through Fund Flow Verification Sufficient Records of External Evidence |
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In addition, in February, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange ("SZSE") issued the Report on The Supervision of Commercial Bribery-Related Issues of Healthcare companies Listed on SZSE. The report listed certain major types of commercial bribery occur in the healthcare industry and mentioned the issue of high sales expenses for some listed healthcare companies. Over recent years, the stock exchanges have attached much importance to the compliance of the sales model and market promotion during the IPO review of pre-IPO healthcare companies. Not only should healthcare companies disclose information according to the rules, but the stock exchanges may also require intermediaries to look into and issue opinions on the legality and compliance of public tendering projects, commercial bribery and unlawful benefit transfers, and the implementation of internal control systems. The highlights released this time reiterate that, for pre-IPO healthcare companies, anti-corruption and anti-bribery have become a focus during IPO reviews, including the legality and compliance of sales promotion activities, the authenticity of expenditures, the effectiveness of internal control systems, the affiliated relationships, and fairness in transactions. The highlights issued not only clarify the key review issues of the stock exchanges for the sales and promotional activities of the pre-IPO healthcare companies but also provided guidance for their daily operational compliance. It also re-emphasizes the importance the securities regulatory authorities attach to anti-corruption and anti-bribery issues of healthcare companies.
VI. Is it still compliant to hold academic conferences in the medical field?
In the recent anti-corruption initiatives, the compliance requirements for medical academic conferences have sparked significant industry-wide concerns. Amidst the upheavals of the initiatives, a number of medical academic conferences were either canceled or postponed, further raising concerns within the industry about the permissible space for medical academic conferences. In fact, the compliance concerns surrounding medical academic conferences is indeed a key aspect of the ongoing anti-corruption initiatives. For instance, the Key Work Points 2023 explicitly propose the rectification of misconduct within industry associations and emphasizes the necessity of regulating various levels and types of industry associations that indirectly channel improper benefits under the guise of academic conferences. In the past, some healthcare companies often chose to collaborate with industry associations by co-hosting or sponsoring academic events held by them, for the purpose of serving as a protective "firewall" against potential corruption risks hidden behind such academic activities. The Key Work Points 2023 pierces the veil of non-compliant academic conferences held by industry associations and highlights the great importance that regulatory authorities have attached to the corruption issues associated with academic conferences.
However, China's anti-corruption initiatives are directed towards penalizing illegal actions where improper benefits are funneled under the guise of academic conferences, rather than disrupting the organization of compliant academic activities. In fact, according to the Notice on Further Strengthening the Regulation of Forum Activities, jointly released by the State Administration for Market Regulation and nine other departments on August 7, and the Questions and Answers on the Concentrated Rectification of Corruption in the Medical Field Nationwide, issued by the Medical Emergency Administration Department of the National Health Commission on August 15, it can be observed that regulatory authorities have consistently maintained a positive and affirmative stance towards the industry's compliant hosting of academic conferences. Academic conferences serve as an excellent platform for efficiently gathering clinical experience and academic technical resources. They facilitate the exchange of medical professional knowledge, contribute to the professional growth of healthcare industry practitioners, and propel the advancement of medical science and technology. Hence, within the framework of legal regulations, healthcare companies, healthcare professionals, and various industry associations can certainly participate in, organize, and sponsor medical academic conferences as required.
In light of the new regulatory enforcement trends, companies should pay more attention to the compliance requirements associated with academic conferences, abandon any mentality of relying on luck or taking chances and, instead, proactively prevent bribery disguised as academic conferences. Regarding the compliance requirements of academic conferences, while laws and regulations have not outlined explicit standards, drawing from industry practices and our experience, the compliance management of academic conferences should encompass various aspects, including the conference's objectives, lecture contents, speaker qualifications, audience qualifications, conference venues, catering arrangements, and lecture fee standards. In our practice, we have also assisted many clients in formulating robust compliance management systems, which include reasonable lecture fee payment standards aligned with fair market value. These compliance standards can provide valuable insights into a company's internal compliance management as well as regulatory authorities' enforcement actions.
VII. How can medical representatives conduct business activities compliantly?
Medical representatives are professionals who represent drug marketing authorization holders (MAH) tasked with engaging in the conveyance, communication, and feedback of medical information within China[2]. Controversies surrounding medical representatives have been consistent and substantial due to the fact that, in the past, a significant number of medical representatives in China engaged in illegal activities such as "bribery-driven sales" and "providing kickbacks", failing to genuinely fulfill their responsibilities of communicating and conveying medical information. Since the implementation of the Trial Measures in December 2020, China's administration of medical representatives has transitioned towards a more standardized approach. However, based on our observations, the practical implementation of the Trial Measures has exhibited certain limitations. Under the new regulatory trend, we believe that the regulatory requirements outlined in the Trial Measures will be implemented more effectively in the future. Additionally, at present, the Trial Measures solely cover the administration of medical representatives who represent drug MAHs. We understand that the relevant regulatory framework may be further improved in the future to encompass the regulatory needs of medical representatives who represent medical device MAHs. According to the Trial Measures, the scope of compliant and non-compliant business activities conducted by medical representatives is as follows:
Furthermore, regulatory documents, including the National Action Plan for Combating Corruption in Practices of Medical Institutions and Their Employees (2021–2024), stipulate that medical institutions should enhance their reception system for medical representatives, implementing the "three determinations and three existences" ("determined time, place and personnel", "the existence of appointment, procedure and record") approach to establish well-developed regulations. Medical institutions shall promptly remove individuals who enter into diagnosis and treatment areas in violation of regulations, and thoroughly investigate kickback issues within the institution.
Under the new regulatory enforcement trend, medical representatives should practice diligent compliance, closely following and adhering to the regulatory and compliance requirements in laws and regulations as well as internal management systems established by medical institutions. They need to transition from a "product sales-oriented" approach back to a more orthodox "academic-profession-oriented" approach, strictly adhere to filing, appointment reception, and other management requirements, eliminate any improper benefit transmission and conduct business activities in full compliance.
VIII. What key compliance issues should companies be aware of when interacting with industry associations and hospitals?
Regarding the interactions with industry associations. As we mentioned above, the Key Work Points 2023 have pierced the veil and have explicitly emphasized the regulatory focus on non-compliant academic conferences held by industry associations. Therefore, healthcare companies should eliminate any misconception that industry associations may serve as a "firewall" or "white gloves" for improper benefit transmission. They should truly understand that academic activities are considered lawful and compliant only in the absence of any improper benefit transmission. In the future, when carrying out academic activities in cooperation with industry associations, companies should pay closer attention to the compliance requirements and consider implementing, for example, the following measures: (1) incorporating anti-corruption and anti-bribery clauses in cooperation agreements; (2) stipulating in advance that the company has audit rights and other supervision and inspection rights in respect of the conference in cooperation agreements; (3) inspecting and supervising the fulfillment of agreements and the authenticity, legality, and compliance of funds usage; (4) taking proactive actions in case any misconduct is identified during the conference, such as refusing to reimburse non-compliant activity expenses, terminating the agreement with the cooperating association, and blacklisting such association.
Regarding the interactions with hospitals. On the one hand, under the new regulatory enforcement trend, most hospitals will strengthen internal compliance management, and may refine and actively implement compliance management systems such as reception systems for medical representatives, drug purchase / admission procedures, and physician business management protocols. In response, healthcare companies should proactively understand and cooperate with the hospital's corresponding management requirements. Companies should also effectively implement the requirements of their established compliance management system during their interaction with the hospitals, encompassing a variety of aspects including but not limited to the requirements for gifts, visits, academic expenses, and communications. For example, when gifts are offered to healthcare professionals, the gifts should have a legitimate purpose and comply with all applicable regulations, policies, and rules, be presented transparently and openly, and with strict control over their nature, value, and frequency.
IX. What are the causes of and the solutions for corruption in the healthcare industry?
Corruption in the healthcare industry is a complex issue with multiple causes. On the one hand, medical and healthcare institutions and HCPs have much influence over prescriptions, treatment decisions, and the use of medical insurance funds, thereby holding significant influence over medical product purchase and distribution transactions. However, subject to various factors, the base salaries of most HCPs are relatively low, making it difficult for medical and healthcare institutions and HCPs to resist the lure of kickbacks, bribery, and profiteering. On the other hand, to seek transaction opportunities and competitive advantage, some healthcare companies tend to obtain admissions of their products into hospitals via kickbacks and bribery to heads of hospitals and HCPs. The wide-range practice of bribery has made it increasingly difficult for healthcare companies to compete solely based on the merit of safety, effectiveness, and innovation of their products, therefore has resulted in a negative impact on the healthcare industry. Also, such bad practices may cause the scenario of "bad money drives out good" in the healthcare industry, where non-compliant companies gradually squeeze compliant companies out of the market without bearing much risk of accountability and penalties. Such practices have also caused the expenses of sales promotion and thereby price of drugs or medical devices to surge dramatically.
Unlike anti-bribery and anti-corruption law enforcement in previous years, the current anti-corruption initiatives lay more emphasis on "key persons" and key positions in the healthcare industry. The regulatory authorities have focused on cracking down corruption both on the bribers, typically targeting healthcare companies, and especially on bribees, including the heads of hospitals and HCPs. This disruption of the existing benefit structure will address and alleviate a variety of issues:
Rooting out corruption in the healthcare industry. By conducting law enforcement actions against medical and healthcare institutions, HCPs, and healthcare companies simultaneously, the regulatory authorities intend to weed out wrongdoing among both bribers and bribees and avoid pursuing a piecemeal approach. The regulatory authorities have also launched a sweeping drive with stronger enforcement and penalties than ever to deter non-compliant companies, medical and healthcare institutions, and HCPs from engaging in misconduct.
Restoring a fair market environment for medical product purchase and distribution transactions. Eradicating bribery in the healthcare industry may allow the standard for product admission to hospitals to be refocused on the products' inherent effectiveness and safety. This is also to rebuild a relatively fair market competition environment to benefit compliant healthcare companies.
Reduce sales and promotion expenses. According to the publicly disclosed financial reports of some listed healthcare companies, the proportion of sales and promotion expenses to the total expenses of many healthcare companies has exceeded 50%, which has aroused much concern from regulatory authorities. The crackdown of corruption and bribery may lead to changes in the methods of sales and promotion; therefore, such high proportions of sales and promotion expenses may no longer be necessary. The reduction of sales and promotion expenses may eventually reduce the total costs of products and contribute to a lower pricing of products, thus benefiting patients and serving the public good.
However, the intensive enforcement may solely focus on corruption itself and may not directly provide a rather feasible solution to the underlying causes of such corruption. So, in addition to the anti-corruption initiatives, policies and new measures are also necessary and may be carried out for resolving income issues of medical and healthcare institutions and HCPs, including but not limited to:
Encourage salary reform for HCPs. In order to enhance income opportunities for HCPs, besides raising base salaries, it may also be feasible to encourage HCPs to earn legal and reasonable compensation through multi-site practices or other permissible practices.
Establish medical service fee standards scientifically. Patients increasingly demand better medical services and, with such high incentives, cutting-edge medical technology has been developing rapidly. However, it is evident that the authorities' efficiency in adjusting the pricing of medical service fees can hardly keep pace with the development of medical technology, resulting in hardly commensurate pricing for cutting-edge medical services under the existing pricing system. Therefore, it would be practical to carry out a new standard to adjust the medical service fees that can promote fair pricing to align with the advancement of medical technology.
Encourage income (e.g., lecture fees) with fair market value. Resulting from the initiatives, entities like hospitals and their departments, academic associations, and healthcare companies have suspended or terminated academic conferences where HCPs may be invited or may provide lectures or host a forum, in fear of compliance risks. The regulatory authorities explicitly state in the recently released Questions and Answers on the Concentrated Rectification of Corruption in the Medical Field Nationwide that they will continue to actively encourage academic conferences and normal medical activities in the healthcare industry. We understand that the HCPs, when engaged in serving academic lectures and courses, are somehow using their own knowledge and expertise and should be compensated for their lectures and courses as long as they meet fair market value. Reasonable, fair, and legal compensation for the labor of HCPs should still be encouraged and advocated and should not be banned completely for the slight possibility of becoming a channel for corruption and bribery.
X. What are the impacts on the industry of this year's anti-corruption initiatives and the suggestions for companies for their future development?
This one-year anti-corruption initiatives will have a far-reaching impact on the healthcare industry and the future business operations of healthcare companies. For the healthcare industry, with stricter anti-corruption and anti-bribery enforcement actions in the future, a fairer market competition environment may be restored for the medical product purchase and distribution transactions. Healthcare companies with stronger scientific research capabilities and products with better safety and effectiveness will more easily gain the favor of the market and admissions to hospitals. Meanwhile, diversified demands for medical technology from different patients may also promote the development of commercial insurance and private hospitals, thereby establishing a new pattern of a healthcare security system that meets diverse level of medical demands.
Healthcare companies may also face several significant changes in the future development of their business operations:
The compliance of healthcare companies in conducting sales and promotional activities is getting increasingly important. With the systematization, standardization, and normalization of anti-corruption and anti-bribery law enforcement actions, as well as the possible penalties for violating anti-corruption regulations becoming more severe, the compliance of healthcare companies will become a crucial foundation for their future business operations. Healthcare companies need to ensure their business models and sales activities of their personnel steer clear of legal risks like commercial bribery; also, the establishment and improvement of internal control and compliance systems will contribute to steady and healthy development of companies in the future.
Medical representatives will focus more on academic promotion when conducting business activities. The initiatives is rigorously cracking down on methods of being admitted into hospitals through bribery and kickbacks. Consequently, representatives will invest more resources into promoting medical knowledge concerning the products and educating target groups of patients through various methods. This legitimate approach to academic promotion will benefit the popularization of medical knowledge.
Company development plans and budget plans will be adjusted accordingly. The prohibition of commercial bribery of hospitals and HCPs may gradually lower unnecessary sales and promotion expenses and save funds in two aspects. Firstly, to obtain hospital admissions in a fair market competition environment, healthcare companies can increase their investment in research and innovation and obtain market recognition through safer and more effective products, which will also contribute to the development of more high-quality innovative drugs. Secondly, the decrease in sales expenses may create space for lower product prices. Such reduction of prices will eventually benefit patients and promote public welfare.
Conclusion
The healthcare industry is an integral component of the national economy and plays a crucial role in public health. This round of anti-corruption initiatives is expected to tackle underlying corruption issues in the entire industry and throughout its supply chain. This endeavor will be beneficial to enable fair competition amongst players in the market, promote healthy development of the healthcare industry, and improve public access to better medical services.
For each healthcare industry practitioner, this anti-corruption initiatives serve both as a challenge and a significant opportunity to gain a competitive edge based on the safety and effectiveness of their products, innovations in technology, and their commitment to internal compliance system development. It is our heartfelt wish that every dedicated participant in the healthcare industry may experience further growth in this fresh and more transparent industry environment.
Important Announcement |
This Legal Commentary has been prepared for clients and professional associates of Han Kun Law Offices. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility can be accepted for errors and omissions, however caused. The information contained in this publication should not be relied on as legal advice and should not be regarded as a substitute for detailed advice in individual cases. If you have any questions regarding this publication, please contact: |
Aaron GU Tel: +86 21 6080 0505 Email: aaron.gu@hankunlaw.com |
Sophie SHI Tel: +86 21 6080 0556 Email: sophie.shi@hankunlaw.com |
[1] Shuwen Sun and Leyi Wang have contributions to this article.
[2] Article 2 of the Administrative Measures for Filing of Medical representatives (for Trial Implementation).