China's food and drug watchdog has formally ushered in a nationwide crackdown on the sale of illegal medicine.

 

　　It comes just days after police detained four senior executives from GlaxoSmithKline's Chinese operations.

 

　　The four executives are being held on charges of bribing officials and doctors to try to boost sales and raise the price of medications here in China.

 

　　The State Food and Drug Administration said the six-month campaign will target illegal online drug sales and the sale of fake traditional Chinese medicine.

 

　　At the same time, the National Development and Reform Commission is now examining the prices charged by 60 local and international drug makers.

 

　　For more on this latest crackdown, Beijinghour's Paul James earlier spoke to our regular financial commentator, Cao Can.

 

　　That was Paul James speaking to Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator