Pharmaceutical Services Negotiating Committee representatives have signed a National Health Service counter-fraud charter, along with representatives of the British Medical Association, the British Dental Association, the Association of Optometrists and the Federation of Ophthalmic and Dispensing Opticians.
The charter commits the signatories to working with the Government on practical action to counter fraud and corruption in the NHS.
Announcing the charter in London on December 1, Lord Philip Hunt (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health) said that the signatories would work with the Government to isolate fraudsters.
"By working in partnership we can ensure that there is no hiding place for those who seek to cheat the NHS," he said.
The NHS director of counter-fraud services (Mr Jim Gee) said that this was the first of a series of charters to be agreed with representative organisations in the NHS.
"The charter will ensure that those who perpetrate fraud are not supported by their peers," he said.
Mr Gee's department is currently investigating 200 fraud suspects, including 36 administrators, 18 external contractors, 25 general medical practitioners, nine hospital doctors and surgeons, 22 nurses, 24 dentists, 16 opticians and 27 pharmacists.
Counter-fraud specialists are being recruited by all health authorities and a special training centre has been opened.