A SALES representative employed by a drugs company was given access to confidential National Health Service patient records to identify those who could be given an expensive new drug to treat cholesterol.

The representative, working for Merck, was given permission by a GP to examine patients’ files to identify those who might be at risk from heart disease. Medical experts said the violation of privacy was “reprehensible”.

The case has raised new concerns over the links between drugs companies and GPs’ practices. It emerged last week that “nurse advisers” funded by drugs firms are also given routine access to confidential patient files.

Paul Flynn, the Labour MP who has campaigned against the marketing techniques used by the drugs companies, said he was concerned at the growing influence of the pharmaceutical industry on patients’ prescriptions.

“People who are in the pay of the drugs industry have a vested interest in promoting drugs whether or not you actually need them,” he said.

The case of the Merck representative was revealed after a complaint to the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI). The representative’s search of files identified 40 patients who might benefit from a new Merck drug, Niaspan.

Niaspan is designed to raise the level of good cholesterol in the blood, but there is limited evidence about its effectiveness. It can cost up to £29.50 a month to prescribe.

The ABPI’s code of practice body upheld the complaint, saying it had brought “discredit” on the drugs industry”. Other cases identified by the ABPI include: oA nurse sponsored by Glaxo Smith Kline (GSK) who was given access to patient records and prescribed the firm’s bestselling asthma drug, Seretide, without consulting doctors. oA nurse funded by a GSK grant who circulated bogus “guidelines” on NHS-headed notepaper that recommended the use of a GSK drug. oRepresentatives of the drugs company Wyeth who offered GPs financial inducements to prescribe its drugs.

Some doctors are particularly concerned over the role of nurse advisers, who are trained by agencies and funded by the pharmaceutical industry. Phil Johnson, the editor of Pulse, the journal for GPs, said: “There needs to be a more robust set of regulations over what is or isn’t appropriate,” he said.

Innovex, a company which provides nurse advisers for drugs firms, states on its website: “Nurse advisers can talk to patients about their prescriptions (and) access patient records to identify those that may benefit from a change of prescription.”

Innovex said it could not disclose the number of nurse advisers it employed in the NHS that were funded by drugs companies because it was commercially sensitive information. Its nurses were “not paid bonuses or commission” to boost sales of drugs.

Merck, GSK and Wyeth said they did not sanction unethical practices by their employees or sponsored staff and have taken action to avoid any similar breaches of the ABPI code.

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