Beijing pharma firms suspended over bribery

Twenty-one pharmaceutical companies in Beijing received two-year suspensions as a result of being blacklisted in a new campaign launched by the city's health bureau, Beijing Times reported (in Chinese). Many companies in the sector agreed the crackdown will improve market order, though some of those listed argued the campaign was unfair as nearly every pharmaceutical firm commits bribery. "We have to [give bribes], otherwise we are cannot survive in this market," said Mr Ren, the owner of Beijing Fuji Pharmaceutical Instruments Company, one of the blacklisted companies.