Shouldn’t we be able to trust doctors to give us independent advice? Earlier this year, there was an outcry when it appeared that a doctor who often appeared on TV to speak about Covid vaccines had been paid a significant sum by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca. The payment was to promote a flu vaccine, not the Covid vaccine. The reaction demonstrated the discomfort many people feel when doctors take money from industry – and it is also catnip to anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists. Independence matters.
This is just one of many monetary exchanges between the pharmaceutical industry and medics. Data published by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (APBI) shows that almost £42m was paid to UK health professionals in 2023 – a mix of mainly consultancy, travel and conference fees. Pharma clearly thinks a massive spend is a good idea.
