ifpma revises code of ethics

Inpharma 1571 - 20 Jan 2007

IFPMA revises code of ethicsThe 26 companies that belong to the International

Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers andAssociations (IFPMA) will no longer be able to offer giftsor money to influence physicians’ prescribing, after arevision of the federation’s code of ethics, reports theBMJ.

In addition, medical and scientific meetings are not toheld in lavish venues, and hospitality must be limited towhat the attendees would pay themselves.

This revision, the first in a decade, is an effort to repairthe industry’s reputation, tainted by the poor publicperception of pharmaceutical companies’ contributionstowards continuing medical education, lectures, travelsexpenses, and the provision of free drug samples.Moreover, studies have identified a correlation betweendrug company-physician relationship and prescribinghabits.

Dr Harvey Bale, the director general of IFPMA, wantsto ensure that patients receive the most suitableproduct, without the influence of gifts, hospitality orvacations. Industry sources will be used to observecompany practices, and an expert panel will evaluatecomplaints and appeals, with code violations to bepublicised, says Dr Bale. Dr Bale also notes that unless acode principle is violated, the revised version does notaffect direct-to-consumer advertising or drug trials.

However, IFPMA members will be able to offer work-related gifts such as stethoscopes or medicaldictionaries. Professor Arthur Caplan, from the Centerfor Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, believesthat even these gifts should be banned, and thatconference "junkets" should be limited.Charatan F. Drug makers end free lunches. BMJ 334: 64-65, No. 7584, 13 Jan2007 801034482

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Inpharma 20 Jan 2007 No. 15711173-8324/10/1571-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved