Disclosure of industry payments to the healthcare sector

I've mentioned Peter Gordon before (see previous post). He raised a petition for a Sunshine Act for Scotland in September 2013 to make it mandatory for healthcare workers (including academics and allied health professionals) to declare fully any payments from industry and commerce (see his blog post). 

The UK government has recently issued a consultation on disclosure of industry payments to the healthcare sector (see BMJ news report). This is based on a recommendation from the Cumberledge review that investigated the harm caused by the use of Primodos, sodium valproate and pelvic mesh (see BMJ news report). 

Peter argues that government proposals for disclosure need to go further (see his blog post). It will be interesting to see the Royal College of Psychiatrists' response to the consultation. Peter tells me that the College has given no response to the Cumberledge review. Still, two high profile media doctors have been persuaded to become conflict-free (see BMJ article).