Intended for healthcare professionals

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News

GMC says it can’t force doctors to disclose payments from drug companies

BMJ 2016; 354 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i3806 (Published 07 July 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i3806
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Rapid Response:

Re: GMC says it can’t force doctors to disclose payments from drug companies

It is clear that the GMC does not have the legal power to force doctors to disclose their financial links with the pharmaceutical industry. It is equally clear that these links can influence prescribing. The GMC cannot therefore ignore their influence.

The GMC will rightly only revalidate a doctor and grant a license to practise if their probity is not in question.

It should not be difficult for the GMC to devise an appropriate declaration for doctors to sign, as part of their revalidation, to avoid any concerns over their probity while fulfilling the need of the public to know they are unduly influenced by Big Pharma.

The current vountary ABPI system is inadequate.

Competing interests: No competing interests

20 July 2016
Donal Duffin
Consultant Physician
Banbridge