Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18888

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

Wells B
UK pharma to declare doctor payments
InPharm 2010 Nov 4
http://www.inpharm.com/news/101104/uk-pharma-must-declare-healthcare-payments

Full text:

The new ABPI Code of Practice comes into operation from 1 January 2011
Pharma companies in the UK have agreed to restrict their promotional giveaways and to declare payments to doctors.

Another common practice, the funding provided by pharma for healthcare professionals to attend third-party educational congresses, will also have to be declared.

Members of the industry association the ABPI voted in favour of making the changes, which they say will help ‘break down barriers’ to trust between pharma and healthcare professionals.

The decision means that the archetypal pharma representative giveaway, stationery and pens carrying the logo and branding of medicines, will now cease.

Perhaps most significantly, the industry has agreed to disclose any payment to individual doctors and healthcare professional for services including speaker fees, advisory boards and consultancy, along with sponsorship for attendance at meetings.

The new Code of Practice comes into force from 1 January 2011, although the introduction of the new rules will in fact be staggered. The new restrictions on promotional giveaways come into force in May 2011, while disclosure of payments will not begin until 2013, for payments made in 2012.

The reforms reflect new tighter standards being introduced around the world, with the US market leading the way. GSK, Lilly and Pfizer have also led the way in the US by introducing their own voluntary declaration of fees to doctors.

Highlights from the changes include:

Declarations and disclosure

• Donations and grants to institutions to be declared

• Declare sponsorship to attend meetings, including accommodation/travel fees and amount of attendees and recipients involved

• Disclose all registration fees paid locally, and by overseas operators

• Consultants required to declare (where relevant) arrangements when they are to write or speak in public at meetings, or advisory boards

• Declare payments for market research and related travel/accommodation

• Monetary support and/or significant indirect/non financial support with a value of £250 per project or more to be declared.

Promotional items and change

• Not to be provided to individuals for personal benefit

• Increase role of pharmacists in certification of promotional material (instead of healthcare professionals)

• Only pens and pads (up to value of £6) of promotional material can be given to healthcare professionals unless they are then to be passed on to a patient support programme

• Promotional items cannot bear brand name, rather company name

• No textbooks can be used as promotional aids.

Speaking after the vote for amendments, Simon Jose, president of the ABPI said: “We operate in a world where customers’ and society’s expectations of our industry have increased and it is only right that we adapt to this. Our members’ vote in support of the changes to the Code recognises this need and also reflects the very supportive feedback from external organisations that these changes clearly resonate with health professionals.”

Jose concluded: “We want to shift the debate to focus on how we can improve health outcomes for patients through science and innovation. This vote is a strong symbolic indicator of change and a positive step towards increasing trust in industry as a partner in the healthcare system.”