Nearly half of all doctors are unaware that the UK pharmaceutical industry operates a code of practice, a new survey has revealed.
The news has come as a surprise to much of the industry, which is determined to improve its image among its key customers, doctors, nurses and other NHS professionals.
The survey showed just 52% of doctors were aware of the ABPI Code of Practice, with awareness being particularly low among hospital doctors, only 40% of whom knew of the code's existence.
In total 400 doctors were surveyed, half of them hospital doctors, the other half GPs.
Knowledge of the self-regulatory system was higher among GPs, with 65% of them saying they were aware of it.
Insiders' view: complain to both the ABPI and the MHRA when you spot a transgression.
Source: Pharmafocus
2 comments:
And complaining to the MHRA (let alone the ABPI) will help exactly how?
Tried, been there, no point.
MHRA - In whose Interests?
The recent TeGenero drug trial debacle was an accident waiting to happen. As long as the Pharmaceutical Industry continues to suppress clinical trial data the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency) will walk blindly and feed the British public false information.
News this week that GlaxoSmithKline knowingly withheld clinical trial data from the MHRA regarding the top selling anti-depressant drug Seroxat will add further fuel to the fire and hopefully push for an independent review into how the MHRA could be duped into believing that a drug they have reviewed on numerous occasions was safe.
The MHRA are made up of medical experts, some of whom are former employees and shareholders of the pharmaceutical companies they grant licenses to. Surely this is wrong and at the very least there is the suspicion of a conflict of interest?
For too long now the MHRA have been hoodwinked by the Pharmaceutical Industry. Lawsuits for damages in respect of harm caused to patients are popping up all over the place, but avoid media and public scrutiny because they are usually settled out of court on the proviso that evidence is not made public.
A public enquiry is needed to examine how the MHRA is run and why former Pharmaceutical Industry directors are allowed onto the board. Would a convicted drink driver be allowed to adjudicate on a road safety panel?
The MHRA need to pull the plug NOW on their close associations with the Pharmaceutical Industry. The British public expects and naively assumes impartiality and not a regulatory authority whose main interest seems to be one of ‘delivering jobs for the boys.’
Mr Robert Fiddaman (Group Moderator of the Online Seroxat Support Group)
Birmingham, UK
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