GSK nurse advisor audit services criticised in The Sunday Times: PMCPA found no breach (AUTH/1806/3/06 & AUTH/1809/3/06)

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Key facts

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Case numbers	AUTH/1806/3/06; AUTH/1809/3/06
Parties	The Sunday Times/Director and a General Practitioner v GlaxoSmithKline
Issue	Sponsored/agency nurse advisors conducting free audits/reviews in GP surgeries; allegations of influencing prescribing and conflicts of interest
Applicable Code	2003
Clauses considered	2, 9.1, 18.1
Decision	No breach
Complaint received / commenced	10 March 2006 (AUTH/1806/3/06 proceedings commenced); 13 March 2006 (AUTH/1809/3/06 complaint received)
Case completed	21 July 2006
Appeal	No appeal
Publication	August 2006 Code of Practice Review
Sanctions	None stated

Reviewed by Dr Anzal Qurbain (FFPM) — ABPI Final Signatory

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The Sunday Times ran an article titled ‘Nurses earn bonuses for use of latest drugs’, criticising (among others) GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for using agency nurses to conduct free audits/reviews in GP surgeries.
The Director took up the article as a complaint under the Code (AUTH/1806/3/06).
A general practitioner separately complained (AUTH/1809/3/06), alleging nurse advisors had a conflict of interest and were involved in marketing medicines rather than acting independently.
Allegations included that nurses were paid salary plus bonus linked to activity (surgeries visited/patients or records reviewed), were “backed up by sales teams”, and were described as able to “influence” new prescriptions.
GSK explained it ran patient review services in asthma, COPD, diabetes, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s Disease and travel health, with protocols/agreements signed by practices, defined inclusion/exclusion criteria, and GP authorisation for any treatment change.
GSK stated nurse remuneration was not linked to prescribing and that promotional and non-promotional activities were separated (including not allowing a representative to both promote and provide detailed service information in the same visit).

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No breach of the ABPI Code of Practice was found.
The Panel ruled no breach of Clauses 18.1, 9.1 and 2 (2003 Code).
The Panel considered the services were not unacceptable, would enhance patient care, and were not an inducement to prescribe, supply, administer, recommend or buy any medicine.

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