Drugs: Industry
Health

Chris Ruane (Vale of Clwyd, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to monitor (a) payment and (b) gifts given to (i) GPs, (ii) other medical staff and (iii) medical administrators by pharmaceutical companies.

Simon Burns (Minister of State (Health), Health; Chelmsford, Conservative)

Payments or gifts to general practitioner (GPs), medical staff and medical administrators are not monitored centrally.

The General Medical Council's “Good Medical Practice” states that doctors

“must not ask for, or accept, any inducement, gift or hospitality which may affect or be seen to affect the way you prescribe for, treat or refer patients.”

Guidance issued by the Department of Health requires national health service employers to ensure their staff are aware of the standards of business conduct for NHS staff and to have local procedures in place for recording the acceptance of gifts and hospitality.

Furthermore, the provisions of the Bribery Act 2010 prevent a person from accepting a financial or other advantage in order to carry out a function or activity improperly. These provisions provide equally to NHS staff, and GPs as independent contractors.