By Jane Han
Staff Reporter
The country's antitrust regulator said Thursday that 17 mid- and large-size pharmaceutical companies were found to have provided rebate-offerings to area hospitals. The watchdog will now expand its ongoing investigation to 200 other local drug companies.
``All of the 17 makers investigated were found to have engaged in suspicious activity,'' said a Fair Trade Commission (FTC) spokesman, adding that both local and multinational drug manufacturers were included in the probe.
He said the pharmaceutical companies under fire had bribed hospital officials with money and other goods.
``The level of punishment will be decided once the investigation results are discussed at an FTC meeting to be held soon,'' said the watchdog official.
The FTC may also begin a probe on the hospitals that are suspected of demanding rebates from drug makers.
While illegal business practices, including rebate-offerings, were considered common in the pharmaceutical industry, a crackdown on such illegal activity has been strengthened recently after FTC Chairman Kwon Oh-Seung warned industry leaders in May.
Since then, the regulator has been investigating the joint marketing system of pharmaceutical companies with regard to fair competition laws.
jhan@koreatimes.co.kr
