Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16464

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Code of conduct govt push
Pharmacy Daily 2009 Sep 9
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au

Full text:

PARLIAMENTARY secretary for Health, Mark Butler, has issued a statement calling for an “industrywide approach” to
marketing obligations within the therapeutic goods industry.

He confirmed that the Therapeutic Goods Association will next week meet with a range of organisations to discuss their
codes of conduct and “consider potential strategies for a way forward”.

Groups cited include Medicines Australia, the Australian Self-Medication Industry, the Generic Medicines Industry
Association, the Complementary Healthcare Council and the Medical Technology Association of Australia.

“I look forward to receiving advice on industry agreed options for working together to strengthen codes of conduct,
provide a level playing field, and ensure that self-regulation retains public and government confidence,” Butler said.

He said the government is pursuing a level playing field for the industry, following recent media reports claiming that
incentives are being offered to promote the sales of certain medical devices and pharmaceuticals.

“Providing inducements to encourage the use of any kind of therapeutic good is simply unacceptable,” he said.

“It undermines public confidence in the industry and our healthcare system. Inconsistencies between codes of conduct
within the therapeutic goods industry can create the damaging perception that sponsor’s obligations differ according to
membership of a particular association,” Butler added.

The recent Sigma cruise controversy (PD 08 Jul) fuelled the debate, with some claims that the company wasn’t bound by
the Medicines Australia code of
conduct because it’s not a member of the organisation.

La Trobe University’s Dr Ken Harvey has urged that rather than just bilateral discussions between the TGA and industry,
consumer groups and health professional groups also be included in the consultations.