GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is making major changes to its incentive schemes following a damaging corruption scandal in China.
The pharmaceuticals firm will stop paying doctors to promote its products through speaking engagements.
"Members of its sales force will also no longer have individual sales targets.
Earlier this year, Chinese police said GSK had transferred 3bn yuan ($489m; £321m) to travel agencies and consultancies to help bribe doctors.
But the company says the latest measures are not related to that continuing investigation. Instead, it says, they are part of a wider effort to improve transparency.
In a statement, Sir Andrew Witty, chief executive of GSK, said: "Today we are outlining a further set of measures to modernise our relationship with healthcare professionals.
"These are designed to bring greater clarity and confidence that whenever we talk to a doctor, nurse or other prescriber, it is patients' interests that always come first."
As well as stopping payments to doctors for making speeches, GSK is also ending payments to healthcare professionals for attending medical conferences.
A spokesperson told the BBC that there were "perceived conflicts of interest with that way of working".
GSK plans a new system under which independent organisations, like universities, can approach GSK for a grant if they want a particular doctor to attend a medical conference."
"Today we are outlining a further set of measures to modernise our relationship with healthcare professionals."
That's big pharma speak for the old payola gravy train is being knocked on the head.
More on this story here.
Eddie
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