| Continuing medical education (CME), the process | | | | The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) had mooted |
| through which doctors in the UK update their | | | | similar proposals in a report published in February. The |
| professional skills and knowledge, looks set to undergo | | | | ABPI has stated that it wants to take the lead on |
| a radical change, if new proposals to split funding | | | | these ideas rather than have them forced on them |
| between doctors and the pharmaceutical industry | | | | under less favourable terms. |
| come into force. | | | | After ABPI's consultation with its members has |
| At present, the industry pays for 100% of all the CME | | | | concluded, the issue will be opened up for wider |
| programmes it sponsors, which often leads to | | | | debate. Any changes to policy that are agreed upon |
| allegations of bias and undue influence over doctors. | | | | will be written into the ABPI's new Code, expected |
| By sharing costs equally between doctors and drug | | | | some time next year. |
| companies, it is hoped that a new level of trust will be | | | | Speaking of the consultation, education and skills |
| fostered between the two groups. | | | | manager at the ABPI Sarah Jones remarked: "Its aim |
| Perhaps unusually, the changes have been proposed | | | | is to review the way in which medical education has |
| by the pharmaceutical industry itself. The Association | | | | been carried out in the past, to find out if it is still |
| of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), the UK's | | | | appropriate for today. And if not, what should we be |
| leading trade association for companies producing | | | | doing differently?" |
| prescription medicines, detailed the proposal in a | | | | The response from industry has been positive. |
| consultation paper sent out to its members earlier this | | | | GlaxoSmithKline's UK Medical Director Pim Kon stated: |
| year. | | | | "We will look to work with the ABPI towards a |
| The move is not wholly unselfish from the | | | | co-funding arrangement - capping what the industry |
| pharmaceutical company's point of view - requiring | | | | pays, and doctors then pay the rest". |
| doctors to contribute to the cost of medical courses | | | | Physicians, too, are generally pleased with the proposal. |
| will mean that those who attend really do want to | | | | The RCP indicated that doctors should do more to |
| participate. | | | | take CME under their own control and not rely on the |
| In the UK, clinicians are given a training allowance | | | | pharmaceutical industry to provide this service for |
| every year by the NHS, and it is likely that this budget | | | | them. |
| will be put towards the cost of medical courses. | | | | |