Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18288

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: Electronic Source

Silverman E
European Drugmakers Pledge To Tighten Ethics
Pharmalot 2010 Jun 25
http://www.pharmalot.com/2010/06/european-drugmakers-pledge-to-tighten-ethics/

Notes:

Link to EFPIA statement http://www.efpia.eu/Content/Default.asp?PageID=559&DocID=9227

Full text:

In a move to strengthen standards and burnish images, the trade group for Europe’s drugmakers has released a new ‘leadership statement on ethical practices‘ that calls for limiting samples, tougher guidelines for sales reps, new standards for industry sponsorship of medical meetings so that science is not “overshadowed,” greater disclosure of relationships with patient advocacy organizations and create ethics councils for oversight.
High on the list is sampling. The members of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations agreed to limit the practice by creating a “four by two” plan – four packets per doctor and for no longer than two years after the launch of a new drug. Unlike in the US, where samples are often doled out to patients who cannot afford meds, European governments generally pay for drugs. A European Union directive limits sampling to “exceptional” cases and the EFPIA notes diparities remain across Europe in providing samples.
“Our industry needs to be in touch with society’s expectations and with peoples’ appropriate demands for both greater transparency and for a greater commitment to high ethical standards,” says GlaxoSmithKline ceo Andrew Witty in a statement. Today’s leadership statement is made in this spirit. It strongly reaffirms our commitment to our existing Codes of Practice and to their continuous improvement. We believe that full adherence to these codes is essential, and that breaches should not be tolerated.”