More healthcare professionals happy to disclose pharma partnership details, says ABPI

Data published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) today has revealed there is a significant increase in the number of healthcare professionals willing to share details of payments for collaborations with the pharmaceutical industry.

The data, for the year 2016, has been published on Disclosure UK — the pharmaceutical industry’s database of payments and benefits in kind made to UK healthcare professionals (HCPs) and organisations (HCOs).

Key figures include: an estimated 65% of healthcare professionals consent to disclosure of payments and benefits in kind; 82% of payments and benefits in kind not related to R&D is disclosed on a named, individual healthcare professional and organisation basis; and 74% of payments and benefits in kind are related to the industry’s work with healthcare professionals and organisations to research and develop new medicines.

Additionally, the data demonstrated an increase in expenditure of the industry on partnerships — from £363 million in 2015 to £454.5 million in 2016 (a 25% rise). This, as reported by the ABPI, is driven by an increase in payments relating to R&D.

“We have seen a significant step change in behaviour in the past year which we welcome wholeheartedly and should be applauded,” commented Mike Thompson, chief executive for the ABPI. “Increasingly doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are doing the right thing in disclosing their collaborations with industry. I am by no means complacent, however — we can and we should be achieving greater transparency. We remain committed to achieving a 100% consent rate in relation to the vital work that the industry does with HCPs and HCOs for the benefit of patients. Greater commitment to this ambition from the NHS, Royal Colleges and professional bodies gives me hope that, collectively, we will achieve this.

“The industry’s commitment to research and development in order to bring the newest, most effective medicines to patients in this country is also indicated in these figures today,” he continued. “With more than £300 million spent in 2016 on partnerships with HCPs and HCOs on the scientific discovery of life-changing medicines last year, the industry remains committed to really making a difference to the lives of patients and their families in the UK.”

This data showing that there is more consent to disclosing partnership information comes ahead of guidance introduced by NHS England and separately by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges this year to encourage healthcare professionals to be more transparent about payments and benefits in kind by disclosing them to Disclosure UK.