Ethical pharmaceutical promotion and communications worldwide: codes and regulations

Jeffrey Francer1, Jose Zamarriego Izquierdo2, Tamara Music3, Kirti Narsai4, Chrisoula Nikidis5, Heather Simmonds6, Paul Woods7
1Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), Washington, USA
2The National Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry in Spain (Farmaindustria) Code Surveillance Unit, Madrid, Spain
3International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), Geneva, Switzerland
4Formally: Pharmaceutical Industry Association of South Africa (PIASA), Johannesburg, South Africa
5Canada’s Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Rx&D Canada), Ottawa, Canada
6The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA), London, UK
7Paul Woods Compliance Ltd, Macclesfield, UK

Tóm tắt

The international pharmaceutical industry has made significant efforts towards ensuring compliant and ethical communication and interaction with physicians and patients. This article presents the current status of the worldwide governance of communication practices by pharmaceutical companies, concentrating on prescription-only medicines. It analyzes legislative, regulatory, and code-based compliance control mechanisms and highlights significant developments, including the 2006 and 2012 revisions of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) Code of Practice. Developments in international controls, largely built upon long-established rules relating to the quality of advertising material, have contributed to clarifying the scope of acceptable company interactions with healthcare professionals. This article aims to provide policy makers, particularly in developing countries, with an overview of the evolution of mechanisms governing the communication practices, such as the distribution of promotional or scientific material and interactions with healthcare stakeholders, relating to prescription-only medicines.

Tài liệu tham khảo

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