Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4524

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

Industry unites to spread CoP word.
PMLive.com 2006 Apr 25
http://www.pmlive.com/communique/news.cfm?showArticle=1&ArticleID=4568

Keywords:
code

Full text:

Reps from 50 pharma firms were yesterday given a slightly different brief – to bombard doctors and other health professionals with information about the ABPI Code of Practice (CoP) that governs their work.

The initiative was part of `Code Day’, designed to spread the word about the code, its provisions and how to make a complaint. Reps and other industry employees meeting with health professionals, patient organisations, professional bodies and the media were asked to dedicate some time to discussing the revamped CoP.

Recent ABPI research has found that 48 per cent of doctors interviewed were unaware of the CoP, while 86 per cent had no knowledge of how to make a complaint.

“I will champion the new code of conduct to ensure that it raises the standard of healthcare in the UK even higher,” said ABPI president, Nigel Brooksby. “This industry-wide initiative symbolises our commitment to promoting the code more widely for the benefit of all patients.”

As part of Code Day, doctors were offered information leaflets which clarify the main provisions of the CoP.

Oliver Brandicourt, managing director of Pfizer UK said the firm had asked all its employees to participate to promote the CoP.

Code Day was coordinated by the ABPI and supported by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, British Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Nursing, NHS Alliance, and the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain.