NHS staff refuse to allow names to be added to list of those taking cash from drug firms

THE identities of hundreds of NHS doctors and officials receiving payments from drugs firms are likely to be kept secret despite the publication of a new “transparency register” this week,

The Daily Telegraph can disclose. Up to half of the health service staff working for pharmaceutical companies alongside their day jobs have refused permission for their names to be included in a new online database. The publication of the register follows recent controversy over the practice of NHS staff being paid by drugs companies, with the industry claiming the data would allow the public to see who received funds from the firms.

From Thursday, each firm was meant to publish a breakdown of the payments they make to individual health care professionals.

But a private analysis conducted by Ernst & Young (EY) in April and seen by

The Daily Telegraph shows that as few as 52 per cent of doctors and officials working with drugs firms had agreed to be included in the database. Industry sources conceded that the final proportion was likely to be even lower.

Under data protection laws individuals can refuse to provide the consent needed for their names to be included in the UK database, which is being overseen by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI).

GlaxoSmithKline has publicly stated that it will no longer pay those who decline to have their identities published – as a result of which the names of 96 per cent of the consultants it has paid will be published on Thursday.

But in the majority of other cases firms continue to employ doctors and officials knowing that the payments will not be individually declared.

According to EY’s survey of 32 companies in April, an average of 278 (52 per cent) of the medical staff and officials receiving expenses, sponsorship or consultancy fees from drugs firms had provided the necessary consent to allow their names to be included. Of the remaining 48 per cent, 187 were “undetermined” – meaning their names could not at that point be included – and 69 had explicitly refused consent.

Last week the ABPI refused to disclose the final number who had refused to be included. But one smaller company which is not a member said in its own case 72 per cent had declined.

The Daily Telegraph has reported how NHS officials responsible for assessing the drugs used by the health service are receiving payments for “advisory” work from manufacturers.

The industry had claimed that the new register would allay concerns over possible conflicts of interest.

Last night the ABPI said the EY survey was “only ever intended to offer a snapshot of how work was progressing”, and only when all the data is published “will there be an accurate view.”

Trouble-shooters brought in by cash-strapped NHS bodies are being paid rates of almost £400,000 a year.

Clinical commissioning groups have hired “turnaround directors” on rates of more than £30,000 a month, Health

Service Journal reported.