Keep drug firms out of primary care

While I can see the point in allowing some alternative providers into the primary care sector (May 3), the idea of drugs companies running chronic disease management is rather like putting Dracula in charge of the blood transfusion service.

This opportunity would enable drugs companies to profit twice from disease, first by charging the PCT for their services, and then for providing the drugs recommended by these services. This is a route to very biased prescribing, and increased drug company profits. There is no guarantee the patient's interests will feature in any of the transactions.

The conflict of interest in such an arrangement is huge, and the benefit appears only to be for the drugs company. There already is a service available to provide chronic disease management and, given the right investment, GP practices will do it very well.

Why are ministers looking to fragment primary care rather than improve what is already there?

Dr Peter Davies

Mixenden, Halifax