Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19593
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: Media Release
GSK discloses payments to Australian healthcare professionals
GlaxoSmithKline 2011 Jun 6
http://www.gsk.com.au/media-centre_detail.aspx?view=432
Full text:
As part of an ongoing commitment to increase transparency, GlaxoSmithKline Australia today disclosed the aggregate amount of fees paid to Australian healthcare professionals and health-related organisations for all sponsorships, grants, speaking engagements and consulting services during the calendar year of 2010.
The total amount was $2,047,728 and covers all parts of the GSK business in Australia. This number is broken into the following categories.
• $371,659 for grants to individual healthcare professionals in relation to attendance at domestic and international conferences and symposia.
• $774,942 for consultancy fees in relation to speaker presentations, work on clinical development advisory boards and medical copy writing
• $901,126 in sponsorships, donations or grants to health related organisations (non-individual)
This disclosure fulfils GSK’s recent commitment to disclose the aggregate figure in early June 2011 and it will be posted to www.gsk.com.au.
Future annualised payment disclosures will be publicised during February each year.
Ms Deborah Waterhouse, General Manager Pharmaceuticals, GSK Australia, said this disclosure is another important step in clarifying the scope and nature of relations between the company, clinicians and health-related organisations.
“GSK is a global advocate for increased transparency in the pharmaceutical sector. We understand very well the need to meet community expectations about transparency in our relationships with healthcare professionals.”
“We are also keen to educate the community on the benefits that come from these relationships – improved patient care, new medical technologies, advances in research and improved dissemination of medical knowledge. We have strong relations with leading healthcare professionals in Australia because their input is crucial in helping us develop better products and processes” said Ms Waterhouse.
GSK is the first pharmaceutical company in Australia to make public the aggregate amount it spends with healthcare professionals and related organisations.
GSK has been disclosing individual payments to patient and community groups for the last three years.
GlaxoSmithKline is a global research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare company with a mission to improve the quality of human life. In Australia we have delivered the highest quality medicines, vaccines and over-the-counter healthcare products since 1886. We contribute to Australia’s economy through new approaches to agriculture and manufacturing, and by investing in local research and development. For more information visit www.gsk.com.au
