ACCC proposes three year authorisation for pharmaceutical code of conduct.
The Australia Competition and Consumer Commission has just announced its draft approval for edition 17 of Medicine Australia’s Code of Conduct.
“The ACCC considers that the Code results in public benefits by providing greater transparency around the relationships between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals,” said ACCC chairman Rod Sims.
However he added that community expectations of disclosure by the industry have increased, saying the ACCC “considers Medicines Australia could go further in ensuring the code meets these expectations now and in the future”.
The Commission has encouraged MA to look for ways to address concerns that have been raised during the ACCC consultation process, including improving the accessibility of reports and the complaints process, as well as “considering disclosure of payments made to individual healthcare professionals”.
MA sought a five year determination, but the draft approval proposes three years of authorisation and during this period the ACCC suggested the organisation could complete work it has already commenced on reviewing the code and make any resulting changes.
Submissions are now being sought on the draft determination.
More information in Monday’s Pharmacy Daily.
