GSK to disclose payments to healthcare professionals by June 2011

As part of an ongoing commitment to increase transparency, GlaxoSmithKline announced today the intention to publish, by June 2011, the total amount of fees paid to Australian healthcare professionals for speaking and consulting services during 2010.

The final figure will include all grants, donations, consultancy fees and sponsorships made to healthcare professionals for research programs, advisory committee work and educational projects. This figure will be updated and made available publicly on a regular basis.

According to Deborah Waterhouse, General Manager GSK Australia, the initiative is consistent with GSK’s long term commitment to increase transparency around commercial relationships with healthcare professionals and other third parties.

“In Australia, GSK will be the first pharmaceutical company to disclose a total amount of payments made to healthcare professionals. This initiative builds on a number of recent steps relating to greater transparency of our activities. These include our clinical trial register, our disclosure of commercial arrangements with patient groups and our commitment to ensure timely publication of all clinical research results in the scientific literature,” Deborah Waterhouse said.

“Our relationship with healthcare professionals is interactive and educational. We provide opportunities to increase medical knowledge and scientific research. This in turn contributes to the advancement of medicine, patient care and community health. Healthcare professionals share their time, expertise and knowledge with us and together we work towards improving patient care. Their input is crucial in helping us develop better products and processes” said Waterhouse.

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