The UK Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has announced that a new Code of Practice for pharma companies will be introduced from January 2006.
The new code contains the following key changes:
Patient safety is being further promoted by a requirement for all printed, promotional material to include prominent information about reporting adverse drug reactions.
Further definition and restrictions are being applied on what can be provided to health professionals in the way of promotional aids, hospitality, subsistence, travel, and accommodation.
Relationships with patient groups and the provision of information to the public are covered in greater depth.
A reduction in the permitted number of pages of medicines advertising and an outright ban on all promotional competitions are introduced.
Moves to speed up the process of determining complaints so that decisions can be made more quickly and sanctions imposed faster.
Materials or activities ruled in serious breach of the code may, under certain circumstances, be suspended, even if an appeal is intended, which will reduce the time such material remains in use.
Results of some, more serious cases will be advertised in the medical and pharmaceutical press, thus strengthening the sanctions available.
The new Code of Practice is available in full on the ABPI website.
Insiders' view: All well and good. But is compliance with the Code higher on CEOs' agendas than the need to achieve sales targets?
Source: http://www.prescriber.co.uk
1 comment:
One intriguing facet of the new code requires that companies 'must only offer economy air travel to delegates sponsored to attend meetings' and that 'lavish venues must not be used'. This speaks of an industry increasingly anxious to project its image as behaving foremost in the interests of patient care, rather than its own interests – and to get government and the media off its back.
Post a Comment