Ireland

Citation

(2006), "Ireland", International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, Vol. 19 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijhcqa.2006.06219cab.002

Ireland

Guidelines for pharma industry-doctor relationships

Keywords: Quality standards, Patients

A new Marketing Code of Practice has been introduced by the Irish Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association (IPHA) this month, which lays down strict guidelines for representatives of the industry in their dealings with healthcare professionals.

The key new features in the 6th edition of this Code of Practice include:

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  Tighter rules around hospitality – hospitality involving sponsoring, securing, organising directly or indirectly, any sporting, entertainment or leisure events or activities is excluded except in very limited and occasional circumstances involving non-promotional third party charity events. The importance of hospitality being secondary to the main educational purpose of the meeting and proportionate is emphasised. The concept of “modest meals” is introduced, (i.e. “Corporate hospitality should be reasonable in level and likely to appear to independent third parties to be reasonable. It should not exceed the level that recipients would normally be prepared to pay themselves” clause 15.9 (iii)).

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  Clarification around gifts/grants – the ban on gifts to healthcare professionals unless inexpensive and relevant to the practice of medicine or pharmacy, has been reinforced together with the introduction of clear, transparent rules covering various forms of grants.

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  An explicit ban on payment for access to doctors under any guise is introduced.

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  The 6th edition of the IPHA Code reflects similar best practice initiatives introduced throughout Europe.

The thinking behind the new measures is part of a worldwide trend towards bringing greater transparency and clarity to every aspect of healthcare.

Clarifying the standards of what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour will, we believe, work to the benefit of healthcare professionals and the industry and ultimately, to the welfare of patients.

The pharmaceutical industry exists to provide medicines for patients. To achieve this, it has always relied on a close working relationship with healthcare professionals in order to inform them of new developments in medicines, and to gather their views and experiences on the use of such medicines in practice, so identifying areas for further development.

By removing the possibility of excess or overly lavish hospitality and/or the perception of such excesses, the Code will ensure that the vital relationship between industry and healthcare professionals is maintained, and that it is seen to focus primarily on the valuable contribution that the industry can make to the lifelong education of healthcare professionals.

For more information: www.healthhub.ie