The cited record supports the material proposition.
The US Justice Department said in June 2020 that Novartis Hellas conspired to bribe employees of state-owned and state-controlled hospitals and clinics in Greece.
- About
- Novartis AG
- Claim made by
- US Department of Justice, regulator statement
- Published
- 25 June 2020
- Evidence score
- 87 How it was scored
- Last reviewed
- 25 October 2026
Why this label
The DOJ release describes the scheme from 2012 to 2015 and a US$225 million criminal penalty for Novartis HellasS1. It says an epidemiological study in 2009 and 2010 was used to make improper payments to health care providersS1. The charge resolved by the agreement concerns causing Novartis AG to record improper payments falselyS1. Novartis confirmed the resolution and the Greek conduct periodS2. A deferred prosecution agreement contains accepted facts but is not a conviction. The claim states what the department said, and the record supports it.
Current procedural position
Deferred prosecution agreement announced on 25 June 2020S1. The agreement term was not stated in the release read, and no breach or later filing was found as of October 2026.
Record supporting the assessment
bribe employees of state-owned and state-controlled hospitals and clinics in Greece
was used as a vehicle to make improper payments to the health care providers
knowingly and willfully conspired with others to cause Novartis AG to mischaracterize and falsely record improper payments
Conflicting or limiting record
No record located that conflicts with this assessment.
Evidence score: 87 of 100
The score grades how well the record establishes this assessment. It is not a score of Novartis AG. Score = source authority + directness + corroboration + procedural accuracy + currency + reproducibility.
| Component | Points | Max | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source authorityIs the source competent to establish the proposition? | 28 | 30 | The DOJ is competent to state the terms and facts of its own agreement. |
| DirectnessDoes the source state the proposition or only discuss adjacent facts? | 19 | 20 | The release states the hospital payments in plain terms. |
| CorroborationDo independent records support the same material point? | 12 | 15 | Novartis confirms the resolution and the period of conduct. |
| Procedural accuracyDoes the record settle the procedural state the claim describes? | 10 | 15 | A DPA rests on accepted facts but is not a conviction. |
| CurrencyHas the record been checked against later developments? | 8 | 10 | No later DOJ filing was found, but the DPA docket was not checked. |
| ReproducibilityCan a reader locate the passage and repeat the assessment? | 10 | 10 | The release is public on justice.gov. |
| Total | 87 | 100 |
Timeline
Related cases
- United States v. Novartis Hellas S.A.C.I.US Department of Justice, with informations filed in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey. Criminal. Not published in the release read.Stage: Deferred prosecution agreement. No breach found in this review.
- DPA with a US$225 million criminal penalty for Novartis Hellas, and an approximately US$8.9 million penalty for Alcon Pte Ltd over VietnamS1
Responses
- Novartis AG, 25 June 2020: Novartis described the matters as legacy compliance issues and said it had fully cooperated with the investigations.S2
Revision history
- Assessment first published with label Supported.
Have a record that changes this assessment? See corrections and responses.
Sources
- S1Tier A Novartis Hellas S.A.C.I. and Alcon Pte Ltd Agree to Pay over $233 Million Combined to Resolve Criminal FCPA CasesUS Department of Justice. Regulator press release. 25 June 2020.Supports the DPAs, the penalties and the hospital payment scheme. It names no Greek officials.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
- S2Tier B Novartis Resolves Legacy FCPA InvestigationsNovartis AG. Company statement. 25 June 2020.Company account giving USD 233.9 million to the DOJ and USD 112.8 million to the SEC. Its view of its internal probe is not independently checked.Link working, checked 25 October 2026
Other claims about Novartis AG
- Unresolved59Witness testimony placed before the Greek parliament in 2018 alleged that Novartis bribed ten Greek politicians, including two former prime ministers.Press report, 22 February 20188 records citedBribery
- Supported83Novartis said in June 2020 that its US resolutions contained no allegations of bribery of Greek politicians, in line with its own internal investigation.Company statement, 25 June 20202 records citedBribery