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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.