Pharmacy Daily | Expanded International Code

THIS month the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations’ new expanded Code of Practice went into effect worldwide (PD 23 Mar). In addition to addressing interactions, the Code now also includes high-level guiding principles for practice, a clear distinction between gifts, promotional aids and items of medical utility, guidance for supporting continuing medical education, and a provision on disclosure of clinical trials information. The Code also provides guidance for filing complaints and prohibits preapproval promotional activities for pharmaceutical products, company-sponsored entertainment at events, and providing or offering personal gifts to healthcare professionals. MEANWHILE Medicines Australia has responded to the implementation of the Code by saying that “Australian consumers can be confident that the standards of ethical conduct and transparency demanded by the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct far exceed those of other countries”. Speaking in the wake of the Code’s release, Medicines Australia CEO Dr Brendan Shaw said “The expanded global Code is a positive step forward, it articulates highlevel principles that hold companies to a high standard of ethical conduct”. “It also imposes new requirements that have been in place in Australia for many years, such as banning personal gifts and the provision of entertainment at educational events,” Shaw said. “The global Code underscores how much further ahead of most countries Australia is in this regard,” he added. To view the expanded IFPMA Code CLICK HERE.

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