UK Pfizer boss criticised for NHS conflict of interest
pharmafile | January 21, 2016 | News story | | Erik Nordkamp, Keep Our NHS Public, King’s College Hospitals NHS Trsut, NHS, Pfizer, conflict of interest, privitisation
Anti-privatisation campaigners have called on a London NHS hospital trust to revoke its decision to appoint the head of Pfizer in the UK to its board, and stop the increasing influence of the pharma industry on the NHS and its decision making bodies.
Erik Nordkamp, who is managing director of Pfizer UK, started as non-executive director of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in London on January 1st.
The Trust says Nordkamp will commit up to three working days a month helping the trust to run its affairs. On his appointment to the role Nordkamp – who started at Pfizer UK in February – said: “I am honoured and delighted to join such a respected and internationally recognised health care organisation and look forward to contributing to its future success.”
But the appointment raises serious concerns about potential conflict of interest, and increasing pharmaceutical and private sector influence over the NHS. Speaking to the website Open Democracy, Alan Taman, a spokesman for the Keep Our NHS Public’s campaign, called for safeguards “to stop unscrupulous non-execs wielding undue influence on trusts.”
Dr Jacky Davis from Keep our NHS Public adds: “It is not appropriate for the head of Pfizer UK to be appointed as a non-exec director at one of the country’s most prestigious trusts. Clearly his presence on the board is likely to influence its attitude to the relationship between the private sector and the NHS, and increase the influence of the pharmaceutical industry within the trust and the broader NHS.”
And she called on King’s NHS Trust to rethink their decision: “This continues to blur the boundaries between public and private sector. The private sector constantly seeks to infiltrate the public sector to increase their influence – King’s NHS Trust should not be facilitating this. Once the public and patients become aware, there is likely to be pressure to reverse this decision. Those who made it should listen to patients and recognise that public interest is not best served by this appointment.”
In a statement King’s College Hospital Trust – one of the largest in the country, says: “The role was publicly advertised, and Erik was appointed following a competitive short-listing and interview process involving the trust chair and council of governors, which comprises elected members of the public, patient and staff populations at King’s.
“All non-executive directors are required to declare any interests pertaining to matters for discussion at the start of board or committee meetings. In the event a non-executive director declares an interest concerning an agenda item, they will be asked to abstain from the discussion.”
Lilian Anekwe
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