China Medtech Anti-corruption efforts are stepping up again. What is different this time?

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China Medtech Anti-corruption efforts are stepping up again. What is different this time?

Global Research

16 June 2026ab

First Read

EquitiesChina Medtech

Anti-corruption efforts are stepping up again. China

What is different this time? Healthcare

Jun Deng

Analyst

jun.deng@ubs.com

What happened? +852-3712 2103

Over the last few weeks, we noted strengthened anti-corruption efforts for China's Emma Ma, CFA

healthcare sector, incl. medtech. Firstly, the Supreme People's Court and Supreme Associate

People's Procuratorate announced Interpretation on Several Issues Concerning the S1460124070003

Application of Law in Handling Criminal Cases of Embezzlement and Bribery (II), emma-mc.ma@ubs.com

effective on 1 May 2026. The interpretation tightens the criminal criteria of accepting +86-21-3866 8981

bribery for healthcare professionals (ie. <3 years/ 3-10 years imprisonment for accepting Chen Chen, PhD

bribery of Rmb30k/200k, vs. Rmb60k/1m previously). Secondly, seven regulatory Analyst

authorities issued Measures for the Administration of Medical Representatives, effective S1460520100001

on 1 Aug 2026. The measures forbid the reps from undertaking the tasks of drug sales, chen-zb.chen@ubs.com

as well as offering kickbacks and gifts etc. to healthcare professionals and their family +86-10-5832 8201

members, etc. Moreover, corporates are to be held accountable for the behaviours of Graham Doyle

their reps (previously corporates could deny their involvement in wrongdoing and leave Analyst

reps accountable alone). Thirdly, 14 government entities published Notice on Issuing graham.doyle@ubs.com

the Key Points for Rectifying Unhealthy Practices in Pharmaceutical Procurement and +44-20-7568 2587

Healthcare Services (2026) on 22 May 2026.