In part 1, we discussed how ISO 37001 ABMS can help companies across a wide range of industries, including automotive, aviation and insurance. In this part, we look at how pharma and healthcare, property, IT and telecommunications, financial, oil and energy organisations can benefit from Anti-Bribery solutions as well.
Pharma and Healthcare
Corruption involving pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers is a major concern around the world. With varied layers and a complicated supply change, corruption can easily gain a foothold even among the most well-meaning healthcare providers and their companies, especially with the industry overburdened with inflating costs and increasing fraud schemes. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that, where losses have been measured and the types of health expenditure have been covered, the average annual cost of fraud totals 7.29 per cent of healthcare budgets (Gee and Button, 2014). For fraudsters, big pharma and healthcare represent a target-rich environment.
Take global pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. The company was accused in China of a large-scale bribery scandal, charged with systematically paying bribes and “gratuities” to doctors and hospitals in return for favourable product use and promotion. China was in the midst of an emerging anti-graft campaign and imposed tough penalties against GSK and its executives: In the end, various company leaders were arrested and eventually given suspended prison sentences; GSK was fined $490 million; and the corporation published a statement of apology to the Chinese government and its citizens (BBC, 2014). Read more about pharma and healthcare fraud in “Pharma and Healthcare Companies can Benefit from ISO 37001.”[/vc_column_text][vc_hoverbox image=”8517″ primary_title=”” hover_title=”Pharma and Healthcare Companies can Benefit from ISO 37001″ hover_btn_title=”TAKE ME TO CASE STUDY” hover_add_button=”true” hover_btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fcrigroup.com%2Fokatsukr%2F2020%2F09%2Febook_Pharma-case-studies-uncovered-due-diligence-lessons-learned.pdf||target:%20_blank|”]CRI Group investigates: Pharma corruption case included CFO[/vc_hoverbox][vc_empty_space height=”45px”]
Property
Property and real estate provide ample opportunity for bribery and corruption, unfortunately. Every step of the process, from zoning and permits to construction and sale or resale represent vulnerabilities and risk. Unfortunately, for as long as there has been a market for buying and selling land, property and resources, there have been schemes that aim to defraud.
Property fraud can be difficult to detect and prevent. Fraudsters often produce fake or forged documents, and there is likely to be collusion involved. For example, a crooked investor might provide kickbacks to an appraiser in return for inflating the value of a property, or he/she may sell a property to a “straw buyer” at an inflated price, with the straw buyer intentionally going into default (and splitting the proceeds of the loan with the fraudulent investor). There are “handshake deals” and “facilitation payments” ready to be made, many in direct contradiction to ethics and the law.
IT and Telecommunications
Internet technology (IT) and telecommunications providers are the engines that help power commerce on a global scale. This massive industry includes companies that provide the infrastructure for communication across multiple countries and continents, including phone and internet providers. Given their role and the technology on which they (and all of us) depend, these services must always be on guard for vulnerabilities to fraud. There is a high risk, however, for bribery and corruption in such a massive market.
In one example, Sweden-based telecommunications provider Telia Company AB agreed to pay $965 million in a global settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, and Dutch and Swedish law enforcement to resolve charges related to violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) to win business in Uzbekistan. According to the SEC’s order, Telia entered the Uzbek telecommunications market by offering and paying at least $330 million in bribes to a shell company under the guise of payments for lobbying and consulting services that never actually occurred. In another case, Cinergy Telecommunications (based in Miami) pleaded guilty to violating the FCPA after admitting to a role in a bribery scheme aimed at locking down a contract with the state-owned telecommunications company in Haiti. The case included large fines and criminal prison sentences for the key players.[/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”45px”]
Food and beverage
This industry is one of the fastest-moving industry in regards to changes. Consumer tastes, preferences, packaging, manufacturing, storage
and transportation is constantly changing and challenging the industry. It has been years since the news of the horsemeat scandal first broke and rocked
the industry. It is not immune to bribery and corruption either. In recent years, the food and beverage industry was shaken by the scandal, when British confectionary company Cadbury Limited and its owner, Mondelez International, Inc., agreed to pay $13 million to settle charges of violating the internal controls and books-and-records provisions of the FCPA. According to the order from the SEC, the FCPA violations arose from payments their subsidiary in India made to a consultant to obtain government licenses and approvals for a chocolate factory in Baddi, India.
An SEC investigation found that in February 2010, Mondelez, formerly known as Kraft Foods, Inc., acquired Cadbury and its subsidiaries, including Cadbury India Limited, which manufactures and sells chocolate products in India. Cadbury India retained and made payments to an agent to interact with Indian government officials to obtain licenses and approvals for a chocolate factory in Baddi, India. Cadbury India failed to conduct appropriate due diligence on, and monitor the activities of, the agent.
To find out more, click below to read our e-book on how ISO 37001 provides solutions to British companies exposed by Brexit challenges:[/vc_column_text][vc_hoverbox image=”7902″ primary_title=”” hover_title=”Brexit poses bribery challenges but ISO 37001 provides solutions” hover_btn_title=”TAKE ME TO CASE STUDY” hover_add_button=”true” hover_btn_link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fcrigroup.com%2Fcase-study%2Fbrexit-poses-new-bribery-challenges%2F||target:%20_blank|”]With Brexit posing challenges through new, untested trade deals in various markets, organisations need ISO 37001 – Anti-Bribery Management Systems standard as a comprehensive approach to mitigating risk.[/vc_hoverbox]
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