Healthy Skepticism Library item: 449
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Publication type: news
New Inquiry - Terms of Reference: The Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry
2004 Jun 18
Full text:
New Inquiry – Terms of Reference: The Influence of the Pharmaceutical Industry
House of Commons
Health Committee
7 Millbank, London SW1P 3JA
Tel: 020 7219 6182
PRESS NOTICE
18 June 2004
No. 25, Session 2003-04
NEW INQUIRY:
the influence of the pharmaceutical industry
Health policy, research, prescribing practice and patient use
The pharmaceutical industry contributes substantially to the health of the nation and brings important benefits to the national economy. However, striking the right balance between health and commercial objectives presents major challenges to health policy makers and administrators, drug regulators and clinicians, as well as industry itself. How these sometimes conflicting objectives are perceived and resolved has profound consequences for consumers, patients and public health.
TERMS OF REFERENCE
The Health Committee is to undertake an inquiry into the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on health policies, health outcomes and future health priorities and needs. The inquiry will focus, in particular, on the impact of the industry on:
. drug innovation
. the conduct of medical research
. the provision of drug information and promotion
. professional and patient education
. regulatory review of drug safety and efficacy
. product evaluation, including assessments of value for money
In doing so, the Committee will examine the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on the NHS; National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE); regulatory authorities and advisory and consultative bodies; prescribers, suppliers and providers of medicines; professional, academic and educational institutions; the (professional and lay) press and other media; and patients, consumers, the general public and representative bodies.
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Organisations and individuals wishing to submit a short memorandum are invited to do so by Monday 16 August. Late memoranda will only be accepted at the Committee=s discretion, and may not be considered for publication.
Evidence sessions are likely to commence in September 2004 and a further press notice will give details of these meetings.
A guide to preparing written evidence for the Health Committee is appended.
The Committee requests that evidence should be concise and in the form of a self-contained memorandum, prepared according to the format set out by the terms of reference given above and preferably submitted electronically to healthcommem@parliament.uk .
Please note that the Health Committee is unable to investigate individual cases.
The Health Committee is a Select Committee of the House of Commons. It is appointed under Standing Order No.152 to examine the expenditure, administration and policy of the Department of Health and associated public bodies. The Committee has the power to send for persons, papers and records.
Current Membership of the Health Committee:
Mr David Hinchliffe MP (Chairman) [L]Wakefield Mr David Amess MP © Southend West John Austin MP [L] Erith and Thamesmead Mr Keith Bradley MP [L] Manchester Withington Simon Burns MP © Chelmsford West Mr Paul Burstow MP [LD] Sutton and Cheam
Jim Dowd MP [L] Lewisham West
Mr Jon Owen Jones MP [L] Cardiff Central Siobhain McDonagh MP [L] Mitcham and Morden Dr Doug Naysmith MP [L] Bristol North West Dr Richard Taylor MP [IND] Wyre Forest
For enquiries please telephone Christine Kirkpatrick on
020 7219 5462
Guide to Submitting Written Evidence
GENERAL INFORMATION
1. All organisations and individuals are welcome to submit written
evidence.
2. Evidence should contain a brief introduction to the persons or
organisations submitting it, and any factual information they have to offer from which the Committee might be able to draw conclusions.
3. Evidence should be structured along the lines of the terms of
reference. Please arrange your material in sections which follow the terms of reference. If you wish to make any further points, please do so in a separate final section.
4. It can helpful if you include any recommendations for action by
the Government or others which you would like the Committee to consider for inclusion in its Report.
5. Once written evidence has been submitted it becomes the property
of the House of Commons and it is for the Committee to decide the manner and timing of its publication; those submitting written evidence may make their evidence public themselves; there is no objection to witnesses simply outlining the views expressed in it.
6. Evidence should be original work, not previously published or
circulated elsewhere. Material published elsewhere may be referred to within a proposed memorandum.
7. Unless indicated otherwise it will be assumed that those
submitting written evidence have no objection to it being made public by the Committee. If witnesses give oral evidence, copies of their written evidence will usually be made available to press and public at the hearing and treated as being in the public domain thereafter. Written evidence submitted by those not giving oral evidence will be made public by the Committee at the end of the inquiry, by publication or other means.
8. You may like to give an indication of your willingness to give
oral evidence.
9. All evidence should be signed (where possible) and dated, with a
note of the author=s name and status, indicating whether the evidence is submitted on an individual or corporate basis.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Evidence should be in the form of a brief, self-contained memorandum, prefaced with a summary. It should be presented in numbered paragraphs.
Evidence submitted in electronic copy should:
1.. be free of any inessential formattingBie bold, underlining and italics should only be used where necessary
2.. where possible be typed in Times New Roman, Font Size 11
3.. be e-mailed to healthcommem@parliament.uk The preferred format is
>Rich Text Format= but Wordperfect or Word will be accepted. Please
>note
that evidence submitted on a disk will not be accepted.
4.. include the full postal address and contact details of sender
Evidence submitted in hard copy form should:
1.. be on white A4 paper, including letterhead with full postal address and contact details on the first sheet. Please avoid colour printing
2.. be in a form which is easy to photocopy
3.. be stapled rather than bound
4.. be a single copy
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The text of Health Committee reports, minutes of evidence and press notices can be accessed through the Internet at Parliament=s websites:
www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/health_committee
Individuals will be kept informed of the progress of the Inquiry through regular press notices. The Health Committee Home page is also updated regularly and details the Health Committee=s forthcoming meetings and current and future inquiries.
All individuals/organisations who submit written and/or oral evidence will be sent a copy of the Report, once published.
