UK govt/ABPI plan faces physician doubts

The British Medical Association has expressed reservations about new guidance from the Department of Health to National Health Service Primary Care Trusts to encourage joint action with the drug industry for the improvement of patient care. The physicians' group stated that more details would be required before it is prepared to endorse a closer relationship between physicians and drugmakers. Des Spence, the director of the advocacy group, No Free Lunch UK, told the Marketletter: "I don't think it's appropriate. This is marketing masquerading as education."

Dr Spence, a general practitioner in Scotland, added: "the GMC [General Medical Council] should be more explicit about the boundaries" between commercial and educational interests. The UK government's actions were also described as evidence of the absence of a "reflective debate on the march towards medicalization."

The UK's Minister of State for Public Health, Dawn Primarolo, announced the plans in London, arguing there is greater recognition by the public sector that drugmakers have developed experience in certain diseases which can be used by clinicians to improve diagnosis and treatment.