UK to bring in Sunshine Act of its own to curb health service 'bribery'

The UK’s Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is to bring in a new rule from 2016 which will affect any member of senior medical staff who receives gifts and hospitality from drug companies.

Hospitals and general practitioner group will be required to keep a register of hospitality and gifts from pharma medical device companies to staff within the UK’s National Health Service. The ‘Sunshine rule’ will be mandatory from next year.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry has welcomed this, and says it sees it as a positive addition to the industry’s existing disclosure initiative. One of its executives, however, said the organization has already established disclosure requirements that go beyond what Mr Hunt is proposing.