§ Mr. AustinTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what reports he has received regarding recent allegations that doctors have been paid money by a drugs company to encourage them to prescribe certain drugs; what action he has taken; and if he will make a statement. [73531]
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§ Mr. Denham[holding answer I March 1999] There have been no reports of United Kingdom doctors receiving payments from a pharmaceutical company to prescribe drugs. Regulations which came into force in 1994 prohibit the promise, offer or supply of gifts or other inducements to persons qualified to prescribe or supply medicines. It is also an offence for health professionals to solicit or accept such gifts. Guidelines on the promotion of medicines are contained also in the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry, which is administered by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, copies of which are available in the Library.
The Medicines Control Agency wrote to all pharmaceutical companies and professional bodies in 1997 reminding them of their legal obligations and our policy of not tolerating unlawful promotions which seek to exert improper influences on prescribers. The public have a right to expect that health care professionals will make decisions solely on the basis of their patients' interests and not on incentives to prescribe or supply certain medicines.