EU and UK Physician Payment Sunshine Coming - May Eclipse US Version

In June 2012, the “code on disclosure of transfers of value from pharmaceutical companies to healthcare professionals and healthcare organisations” was announced by the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA). Starting 1 July 2016, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) will publish details of British pharmaceutical company payments made to healthcare professionals, including nurses and pharmacists.


This goes beyond the US Physician Payment Sunshine Act, which doesn’t require companies to publicly report payments to nurse practitioners or physician assistants, even though they are allowed to write prescriptions in most states (see here). This, however, may change if legislation proposed by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., becomes law. The legislation would expand the disclosure requirement beginning in 2017 to include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified nurse midwives (read more about that here).

What do UK health professionals think of ABPI's plans to publish these data?

To find out, ABPI commissioned a survey of 507 healthcare professionals online between 21st May and 8th June 2015. The sample of respondents included an equal split of GPs, Hospital Specialists, Pharmacists and Nurses from throughout the UK.

Click on image for an enlarged view.

Most clinicians (86%) back moves to make payments received from pharma companies more transparent and 75% think publication of payment data will have no effect on their relationship with pharma companies. Meanwhile, a significant minority (26%) believe that declaring these payments will adversely affect medical innovation (63% disagree). You can learn more about the survey and download the data here.