Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry's code of practice needs to be clarified
http://www.100md.com
《英国医生杂志》
EDITOR—The article by Eaton does not entirely reflect the requirements of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry's code of practice for the pharmaceutical industry (www.pmcpa.org.uk).1 It is based on an editorial in the review of the code of practice from May, which reminded representatives that agreeing to give money in exchange for appointments with general practitioners would be a breach of the code. The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (which administers the code) occasionally receives reports of general practitioners' surgeries asking for a fee to see representatives. In such circumstances the authority writes to the general practitioners concerned, asking them to bear in mind the requirements of clause 15.3 of the code that no fee should be paid or offered for an interview. The authority was also aware of a surgery requesting that pharmaceutical company representatives paid a fee for what seemed to be a social event. No indication was given that there was any educational content. Representatives can reimburse surgeries for appropriate hospitality at meetings where the prime purpose is educational. This is specifically referred to in the supplementary information to clause 15.3 of the code. Meetings organised for groups of doctors and other health professionals that are wholly or mainly of a social or sporting nature are unacceptable. The purpose of the article in May's review of the code of practice was to remind companies of what is and what is not permitted under the code, and that unacceptable requests from health professionals can be forwarded to the authority for it to write to the surgeries concerned and ask that arrangements be changed.
Heather J Simmonds, director
Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, London SW1A 2 DY hsimmonds@abpi.org.uk
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Eaton L. GPs asked not to demand payments from drug company representatives. BMJ 2004;429: 72. (10 July.)
Heather J Simmonds, director
Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, London SW1A 2 DY hsimmonds@abpi.org.uk
Competing interests: None declared.
References
Eaton L. GPs asked not to demand payments from drug company representatives. BMJ 2004;429: 72. (10 July.)