Drug Company-Sponsored Research at VA Medical Facilities
HRD-86-56
Published: Apr 24, 1986. Publicly Released: Jun 03, 1986.
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Highlights
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed drug companies' medical research activities in Veterans Administration (VA) facilities. The review included: (1) examining VA research involvement with drug companies; (2) determining whether the VA practice of using drug company donations for medical research violates federal prohibitions against an agency supplementing its appropriations; (3) reviewing VA procedures concerning financial controls imposed on investigators conducting such research; (4) determining whether VA recovers all costs of performing drug company-sponsored studies; and (5) reviewing VA investigations of allegations involving drug company-funded research at the VA Medical Center in Long Beach, California.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to revise VA guidelines to require VA medical center directors to inform outside sponsors of research, including drug companies, before studies are initiated in VA medical facilities, that the studies will be performed by VA investigators as part of their official VA duties. |
Closed – Implemented
VA Circular 10-86-85 was issued on July 24, 1986 by the Chief Medical Director, to implement this recommendation.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to revise VA guidelines to require VA medical center directors to inform outside sponsors of research, including drug companies, before studies are initiated in VA medical facilities, that federal law prohibits all VA employees from receiving compensation from outside the agency for services performed in connection with their official VA duties and prohibits anyone from providing such compensation. |
Closed – Implemented
VA Circular 10-86-85 was issued on July 24, 1986, by the Chief Medical Director, to implement this recommendation.
|
| Veterans Administration | The Administrator of Veterans Affairs should direct the Chief Medical Director to revise VA guidelines to require VA medical center directors to inform outside sponsors of research, including drug companies, before studies are initiated in VA medical facilities, that all payments in connection with the studies should be made to the General Post Fund or an outside institution approved by a VA medical center research and development committee, and not to individual VA investigators. |
Closed – Implemented
VA Circular 10-86-85 was issued on July 24, 1986, by the Chief Medical Director, to implement this recommendation.
|
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Funds managementGifts or gratuitiesInvestigations into federal agenciesMedical researchPharmaceutical industryDonationsVeteransCriminal investigationsMedical facilitiesProtocols