NHS drug assessors also paid by drug companies

[MeSci]

Ministers launch urgent inquiry into NHS officials' second jobs at drugs firms

Government announces "urgent investigation" as Telegraph reveals how scores of officials involved in assessing which drugs are given to patients are also acting as paid consultants to pharmaceutical companies


By Edward Malnick, Lyndsey Telford, Luke Heighton and Claire Newell

6:31PM GMT 16 Feb 2016

Ministers have launched an urgent inquiry into the practice of NHS staff being paid by drugs companies, following a Telegraph investigation.

This newspaper has revealed that more than 130 NHS officials involved in assessing which drugs are given to patients are also acting as paid consultants to pharmaceutical companies.

Scores of health service staff, most of whom are managers or other senior officials, are receiving generous fees to sit on “advisory boards” for drugs firms whose products they are responsible for considering on behalf of the NHS.

Alistair Burt, the health minister, said: “These are very serious allegations – an urgent investigation is under way and action will be taken against any NHS staff attempting to influence purchasing decisions in return for payment, gifts or hospitality.

 

[sarah darwins]

I think this is a follow-on from the story that we covered here a while ago: http://forums.phoenixrising.me/inde...y-pharmaceutical-companies.43111/#post-698458

So the gov is looking into it. Be interesting to see what they decide to do about it.

 

[MeSci]

I think this is a follow-on from the story that we covered here a while ago: http://forums.phoenixrising.me/inde...y-pharmaceutical-companies.43111/#post-698458

So the gov is looking into it. Be interesting to see what they decide to do about it.

Oh yes - that one is actually more recent! I did look for threads on it but didn't find it.

EDIT - because it wasn't in the forum I expected it to be in!

 

[taniaaust1]

I wonder if they've made sure that the ones doing the investigations aren't linked to drug companies too in some ways. I think this issue is rife right through our whole systems. The big drug companies make sure they have people in high places.