This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New guidance on joint working
14/12/2003
New guidance aimed at improving the way the NHS works
with the pharmaceutical industry was launched today.
It highlights examples of where joint working has
brought benefits for patients and aims to ensure that joint
projects involving the industry and the NHS are open and
transparent.
Key points are:
- All joint working between the pharmaceutical
industry and NHSScotland must be for the benefit of
patients
- Joint working agreements should not be seen as an
endorsement or promotion of a specific medicine or
technology
- Joint working linked to the purchase or supply of
particular products, or to supply from particular
sources, is not permitted unless as the result of an
open and transparent tender process
- All joint working should be documented and this
information should be accessible by the public and at
NHS Board and Trust meetings
- Joint working agreements should not conflict with
the recommendations of the Scottish Medicines
Consortium or NHS Quality Improvement Scotland
Health Minister Malcolm Chisholm said:
"Joint working between the NHS and pharmaceutical
companies can bring significant benefits for the NHS and
for patients.
"A project involving GPs, the Scottish Intercollegiate
Guidelines Network (SIGN), the Scottish Heart and Arterial
Risk Prevention group (SHARP) and the pharmaceutical
industry resulted in the development of a 'Heart Pack' to
raise awareness in primary care teams of good practice in
caring for people with coronary heart disease.
"Similarly, the Scottish Diabetes Industry Group, set up
by the pharmaceutical industry, has provided IT and
technical support for the development of the Diabetes in
Scotland website.
"These are practical, meaningful ways in which the
pharmaceutical industry can make a valuable contribution to
improving patient care. However, we must also be aware of
the potential for conflicts of interest to occur, for
example where a clinician has an interest in a particular
company or product.
"By working with the industry according to clear and
responsible guidelines we can ensure that the relationship
between the NHS and the pharmaceutical industry is
transparent and accountable, with the fundamental guiding
principle being the benefits for patients.
"Health Board Chief Executives will ensure that staff
are made aware of the new guidance and establish a register
of interest for all NHS employees and primary care
contractors with a specified person responsible for keeping
and maintaining the register."
Jim Eadie, Director of the Association of the British
Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Scotland, said:
"ABPI Scotland welcomes this guidance and is delighted
that it recognises the pharmaceutical industry as a
significant stakeholder with expertise and experience of
value to the NHS. It also provides positive endorsement
of the excellent examples of successful joint working
already in progress.
"I am convinced that as NHSScotland and the
pharmaceutical industry work more closely in this new
spirit there will be real benefits for patient care and
improvements in the health of the people of Scotland.
Separate guidance on joint working between the NHS and
the pharmaceutical industry relating to research and
development will also be published in due course.