In the UK almost all doctors work for the NHS. Most doctors are state educated and are supported through university by the taxpayer. Most doctors are high earners with salaries of £80,000 plus. Doctors also enjoy full employment and a generous pension scheme. Doctors are the most trusted of all the professions and enjoy a high social status. Should doctors be indebted to the state and the NHS for all these privileges?
Most doctors are hard working,decent people seeking only to serve their communities. The public need to understand, however, that in general terms doctors are only a cross section of society sharing all the strengths and weaknesses of humanity. They are not different.
Doctors enjoy widespread hospitality from pharmaceutical companies. This is not just a few pens. Many doctors have lunch provided on a daily basis, attend meals in expensive restaurants, visits luxury hotels and many are flown to international destinations. NHS doctors can receive many thousands of pounds working for companies but these payments are not disclosed. All this hospitality and money directly effects the medications that you are prescribed. Vioxx and Seroxat were both promoted by these methods. No other public servants would be allowed such payments or hospitality. Do you think that all such contacts and payments should be disclosed to you the patients? We do.
Consider these facts:
- The pharmaceutical industry spends billions on marketing its drugs. In the USA more money was spent promoting a single medication than was spent selling Budweiser. In the UK billions are spent on promotion.
- The pharmaceutical industry has close links with the top medical experts many of whom receive direct large financial payments. These payments are not declared to other doctors and certainly not to patients
- About 80% of new medications are not in fact new but merely a rehash of old medications. Millions die in the developing world but little research is done because the profits are in the developed world.
- Pharma Companies use GPs to conduct research. Some GP practices are making tens of thousands of pounds every year through this work. These payments are undisclosed to patients. This research is done on NHS premises and often during normal office hours.
- Many top specialists are flown first class around the world to attend international meetings. These meeting are "educational" but may be set in the most exotic locations like Brazil, the USA etc. These are all expenses paid - that's hotel, drinks, the whole bunna! Is this education or promotion? You decide.
- GPs are paid for giving feedback to marketing companies. This can be in the form of cash (literally in envelopes). £50 for 10 minutes "work".
- It is estimated that twice as many people die from adverse drug reactions than die on our roads. Yet we have police, speed cameras, traffic calming measures. The drugs industry has no such checks. A leading specialist at a parliamentary inquiry claimed that many regulators across Europe had been "captured" by the pharmaceutical industry. The current drug regulatory system is rather like asking speeding motorist to report him or herself!
- The industry is accused of widespread suppression of negative research data and using ghostwriters in place of doctors to write research papers.
- The regulator known as the MRHA is entirely funded by the Pharmaceutical Industry. Many of those working for the regulator have also worked for the drugs industry. Is this acceptable?
Patient power is important. We need your help.
What you can do
- Write to your MP
- Encourage your doctors to take the pledge
- Inform yourself
- Ask questions! If your doctors has nothing to hide then they will happily answer your questions
- If you have a problem with a medication please ask your doctor to report you concern to the regulator.