GSK paid $2.4m to HCPs
May 12, 2014
GLAXOSMITHKLINE (GSK) has
released its figures for fees paid to
Australian healthcare professionals
(HCPs) including pharmacists,
which totalled $2,430,545 for the
2013 calendar year.
This covered all parts of the
company’s business in the country
including pharmaceuticals, with
$793,468 for consultancy fees for
HCPs providing services including
speaking and writing arrangements
and $1,088,541 to individuals to
attend congresses and meetings, as
well as sponsorships to healthcare
organisations where the company
received a benefit in return.
$548,536 went to grants and
donations for HCOs, including
where GSK was not involved and
received no direct benefit.
Payments for speaking and
writing engagements, attendance
at medical conferences, and sales
compensation for targets would
be phased out by 2016 as part of a
global movement, GSK said (PD 09
May).
GSK Australia pharmaceuticals
general manager Geoff McDonald
said the company remained strong
supporters of transparency and
would continue to release data
annually.
A GSK spokeswoman said the
company had advocated for about
three years for publication of
payments to be included in the
Medicines Code.
In comparison with 2012,
payments had shown a small
decrease, but a drop in figures
should be noticeable by 2015, the
spokeswoman said.
Medicines Australia ceo Dr
Brendan Shaw said in response
to community feedback, MA
had led a collaboration with
HCOs and patient groups to
propose a framework that would
deliver further transparency
around payments and other
financial relationships between
pharmaceutical companies and
HCPs, and MA was proposing to
introduce greater transparency
in the 18th edition of its Code of
Conduct next year.
“While there is still more to be
done, these new transparency
measures are an important step for
industry, healthcare professionals
and importantly Australian
patients.”
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