Glaxo to report grants to U.S. healthcare groups

Bowing to emerging trends favoring such disclosures, drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline has announced plans to publicly report the grants it provides to U.S. healthcare organizations. The report, which will be issued quarterly beginning in February 2009, will include grants provided to hospitals, teaching institutions, managed care organizations, professional associations, patient advocacy groups and CME companies. Details will include the recipient's name, a grant description and the amount provided. Notably absent, however, is information on the pharmaceutical firm's consulting agreements with doctors, a source of controversy in many discussions of pharma financial relationships.

The voluntary disclosures come at a time when both state and federal officials are pushing for such. Massachusetts, in fact, has just passed a law requiring drug companies and devicemakers to report payments of more than $50 made to medical providers. Meanwhile, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) is sponsoring a federal bill that would establish similar rules.

To learn more about Glaxo's plans:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)

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