Scotland - Doctors required to reveal links with drug firms

[Guest guest]

From Sue

Imho this is an excellent move, although it would be nice to see GPs there

from the outset - I would imagine that they prescribe the largest number of

drugs.

------------------------------------------------------

http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/56109.html

Doctors required to reveal links with drug firms

BILLY BRIGGS February 13 2006

Doctors and consultants face having to register publicly any links with drug

companies.

The unprecedented move follows concern that multi-million-pound firms wield

too much influence over the doctors.

This register of interests, which would be the first in Britain, could

enable patients to find out whether their doctor has been treated to lunch

or a corporate hospitality event, attended a conference at a company's

expense or been paid to give a lecture on a certain product.

Politicians called for the relationship between doctors and the

pharmaceutical industry to be more transparent after The Herald last summer

highlighted the case of a child who died after being prescribed high doses

of a steroid called fluticasone, used in the treatment of asthma.

NHS Greater Glasgow is consulting on the issue and has been negotiating with

the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Scotland. The health

board wants the register to be available to the public by June. The ish

Executive said it could be rolled out across the country.

A health board spokesman said: " We are anticipating by the second quarter of

this year to be in a position of moving towards the implementation of a

pan-Glasgow policy. It is part of our policy to be open and transparent. "

Officials said details were still being finalised but confirmed the register

would apply to all NHS medical staff, including consultants. Although GPs

are independent contractors, NHS Greater Glasgow said it was moving towards

eventually including them on the register.

Carolyn Leckie, health spokeswoman for the ish Socialist Party, backed

the move and said she hoped other health boards would also introduce

registers. " I hope it will be part of contractual agreements with staff, and

not on a voluntary basis. "

Last year there were claims that hundreds of asthmatic children could be in

danger from excessive dosages of an inhaled steroid because of the way

Europe's largest drug company was promoting vital treatments to doctors.

Dr Geoff Todd, a consultant chest physician, expressed his concerns after a

sheriff published a damning report which said the failure of medics to

recognise the risks of fluticasone was instrumental in the death of

five-year-old Emma Frame. She died at Wishaw General Hospital in

Lanarkshire, after being prescribed by her GP up to five times the licensed

dose of fluticasone, marketed by GlaxoKline (GSK) as the safest

available treatment. The fatal accident inquiry highlighted the close

relationship between some doctors and drug companies.

Dr Todd, who gave evidence at the inquiry, said doctors were being

misinformed about the drug, which was promoted with strong safety messages

and images of teddy bears.

Sheriff Carol criticised Emma's GP and respiratory specialists from

the Royal Hospital for Sick Children at Yorkhill, Glasgow, and blamed GSK

for contributing to the medical profession's " complacency " about the drug's

safety.

GSK said it had followed all advertising and ethical guidelines in its

promotion and that the safety profile of fluticasone within licensed doses

was well established.

Frame, Emma's father, welcomed the register move by NHS Greater

Glasgow. " I hope that it is successful and quickly adopted by other health

boards. " A British Medical Journal survey has found GPs who saw drug firm

reps at least once a week were more likely to prescribe drugs that were not

needed.

--------------------------------------------------------

Sheri Nakken, R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

$$ Donations to help in the work - accepted by Paypal account

earthmysteriestours@... voicemail US 530-740-0561

(go to http://www.paypal.com) or by mail

Vaccines - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm

Vaccine Dangers On-Line course - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccineclass.htm

Homeopathy On-Line course - http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/homeo.htm