The General Medical Council (GMC) is examining comments made by Dr Aseem Malhotra at the Reform UK party conference, where he linked Covid vaccines to cancer in the royal family. The regulator is also progressing an existing investigation into Malhotra, an adviser to US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, over previous claims. The GMC may consider restricting his ability to practise medicine in the UK to protect the public.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the remarks at Prime Minister's Questions, stating: 'The man who wrote Reform's health policy has made shocking and baseless claims that vaccines are linked to cancer... These dangerous conspiracies cost lives and show that Reform can't be trusted with our NHS.' Medical bodies have warned that Malhotra's 'pseudo-science' could undermine trust in doctors.
Malhotra, a cardiologist who continues to practise in the UK, told the conference that vaccines 'created havoc' in the body and cited an unnamed oncologist who suggested Covid vaccines were 'a significant factor' in royal family cancers. Reform UK has distanced itself from the comments, though party chair David Bull introduced Malhotra as a co-author of its health policy.
Dr Jeanette Dickson, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, welcomed the GMC review, saying: 'Both propositions have been roundly condemned by experts... anti-vaccine theories are particularly pernicious because they can and do save lives.' The British Medical Association also criticised the remarks as 'dangerous and irresponsible'.
Malhotra accused Starmer of making 'false statements' and reaffirmed his support for 'traditional' vaccines. He claimed to have backing from political figures and doctors. The GMC admitted last year it had erred in not investigating earlier complaints about Malhotra's alleged 'harmful misinformation' on Covid vaccines.
