NHS Digital Data Sharing Remote Audit: IQVIA

Purpose

This report records the key findings of a remote data sharing audit of IQVIA Limited and IQVIA Technology Services Limited (collectively referred to as IQVIA) where the interviews were conducted between 9 and 16 August 2022. It provides an evaluation of how IQVIA conforms to the requirements of:

• Data Sharing Framework Contracts (DSFCs): 
  • CON-290392-M1B6L-v2.01 (IQVIA Limited)
  • CON-315306-L9Z8S-v2.01 (IQVIA Technology Services Limited)
• Data Sharing Agreements (DSAs): DARS-NIC-373563-N8Z9J-v9.7 and v10.7

These DSAs covers the provision of the following datasets:

The joint Controllers are IQVIA Limited and IQVIA Technology Services Limited. 

The data allows IQVIA to provide services to improve healthcare for citizens and provide support services to healthcare providers to enable them to deliver better healthcare. This includes:

• the development of a suite of software tools and dashboards which enables authorised users to view metrics using tables, maps and charts
• undertaking bespoke statistical analyses to fulfil the requirements of specific projects.

This report also considers whether IQVIA conforms to its own policies, processes and procedures.

The interviews during the audit were conducted through video conferencing. 

This is an exception report based on the criteria expressed in the NHS Digital Data Sharing Remote Audit Guide version 1.

Audit type and scope

Data recipient’s acceptance statement

IQVIA has reviewed this report and confirmed that it is accurate. 

Data recipient’s action plan

IQVIA will establish a corrective action plan to address each finding shown in the findings table below. NHS Digital will validate this plan and the resultant actions at a post audit review with IQVIA to confirm the findings have been satisfactorily addressed. The post audit review will also consider the outstanding evidence at which point the Audit Team may raise further findings.

The following table identifies the 1 agreement nonconformity, 4 organisation nonconformities, 1 observation, 3 opportunities for improvement and 2 points for follow-up raised as part of the audit. During the audit, 2 of these findings were closed. 

Note: findings identified that were comparable to those raised in the June 2022 audit of IQVIA have not been included in this report.

Use of data

IQVIA confirmed that the datasets were only being processed and used for the purposes defined in the DSAs and were not being linked with another dataset. 

Data location

IQVIA confirmed that processing and storage locations, including disaster recovery and backups, of the datasets were limited to the location shown in the following table. These locations conform with the territory of use defined in clause 2c of the DSA.

Backup retention

The duration for which data may be retained on backup media is:

The audit was based upon a sample of the data recipient’s activities, as observed by the Audit Team. The findings detailed in this audit report may not include all possible nonconformities which may exist. In addition, as the audit interviews were conducted through a video conference platform, certain controls that would normally be assessed whilst onsite could not be witnessed.

NHS Digital has prepared this audit report for its own purposes. As a result, NHS Digital does not assume any liability to any person or organisation for any loss or damage suffered or costs incurred by it arising out of, or in connection with, this report, however such loss or damage is caused. NHS Digital does not assume liability for any loss occasioned to any person or organisation acting or refraining from acting as a result of any information contained in this report.