GSK discloses $28,375 in payments to HCPs

GSK stopped paying healthcare professionals to speak about our prescription medicines and vaccines on 1 January 2016

GSK has published its second bi annual report disclosing individual transfer of value (monetary funds) to healthcare professionals in line with Medicine Australia’s Code of Conduct. 

During the six month period (1 May – 31 October 2016) GSK made payments to healthcare professionals to the total value of $28,375, a significant decrease in the level of funding provided by GSK to HCPs in the previous report and lower than the industry average.

The $28,375 reported in the most recent report was for consultancy services providing GSK’s employees with important scientific and medical expertise and insights into the care of patients.  These partnerships are fundamental to the progress of medical science and to help meet patient and public health needs.

The significant decrease in payments to HCPs reflects GSK’s decision to change the way it provides medical education to healthcare professionals, meaning that GSK no longer pays or ‘sponsors’ HCPs to speak to their peers about our prescription medicines or vaccines on the company’s behalf.  Instead GSK has increased peer-to-peer discussions with GSK medics and supports arms-length funding for independent and valuable education.

The industry-leading changes implemented from 1 January 2016 help address concerns about undue influence on prescriber behaviour and introduce greater transparency into marketing and education activities.

“Cooperation between pharmaceutical companies, regulators, healthcare professionals, healthcare organisations and patients, is essential for the sustainable improvement of healthcare.  

“Removing the perception of inappropriate influence is critical to patients’ trust and GSK is  committed to going beyond the requirements set out in the Medicines Australia Code by continuing to make additional, industry leading changes to our business model.

“Over the past decade GSK has challenged the traditional industry model by being first to increase transparency around clinical trial data and being first to abolish individual sales targets for medical representatives,” said Ms Anne Belcher, general manager, GSK Australia.

 Download our 1 May – 31 October 2016 report.

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Additional notes

GlaxoSmithKline - is a global research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare company. Since 1886 we have delivered the highest quality medicines, vaccines and over-the-counter healthcare products to Australians while investing in local research and providing skilled jobs. For further information please visit www.au.gsk.com.

GSK has two manufacturing facilities in Australia. Pharmaceutical products are manufactured in Boronia on the outskirts of Melbourne. It is one of GSK’s largest sterile facilities globally and includes two Relenza lines and innovative blow-fill-seal technology.

The GSK site at Ermington, in north-western Sydney, manufactures consumer products.