The bribery case involving GlaxoSmithKline, the UK-based pharmaceutical company, points to another conduit that pushes up the prices of medicines. The reform of the medical system, which will scrap the money hospitals make from the sale of drugs, can hardly prevent this from ending up in patients' medical bills.

It is a shame that such a well-known transnational pharmaceutical firm has promoted its sales in such a dirty and devious way. GSK has apologized and expressed its support for China's action against corruption.

But what is appalling is the way the GSK senior executives channeled money to officials and doctors. They did it through travel agencies that would allegedly invent corporate meetings that required staff travel, but instead use the money to bribe doctors to prescribe GSK drugs or officials to ensure hospitals use their drugs.