E-DRUG: Transparency of Financial Relationships between Pharma & Health Professionals in EU
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[Industry payments and other sorts of promotion to healthcare professionals do not only happen in the EU and rich countries. This HAI publication could help all countries develop mechanisms to ensure transparency and develop more effective regulation to control such activities. BS]
Dear eDruggers,
To contribute to discussions on the transparency of industry payments to
healthcare professionals, Health Action International has published a
report by our Senior Policy Advisor, Ancel.la Santos, entitled
The Sun Shines on Europe: Transparency of financial relationships in the
healthcare sector
<http://haiweb.org/publication/report-sun-shines-europe-transparency-financ
ial-relationships-healthcare-sector/>
The report takes a look at a range of transparency initiatives in Europe and issues key recommendations on the best way forward.
The report notes that pharmaceutical companies employ a wide range of
promotional activities to increase medicines prescription rates and
maximise their profit. Some of the strategies companies use to influence
healthcare professionals include the provision of hospitality to attend
events, free meals and gift-giving. At the same time, healthcare
professionals might be part of companies¹ advisory boards and receive
speaking fees. At the core of the issue around these types of activities
is the reality that financial conflicts of interest raise serious concerns
about the objectivity of medical research and the commitment of healthcare
professionals to patients¹ best interest.
In recent years, several countries in the European Union have enacted laws
to increase the transparency of financial relationships between the
pharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals. In other countries,
disclosure is primarily managed through self-regulation by the
pharmaceutical industry. The report takes a look at both approaches and
makes a series of recommendations for more effective regulation of
payments from pharmaceutical companies to healthcare professionals.
To download a copy of the report, please click here
<http://haiweb.org/publication/report-sun-shines-europe-transparency-financ
ial-relationships-healthcare-sector/>.
Kind regards,
James Still
Communications Advisor
Health Action International
w: www.haiweb.org
James Still <James@haiweb.org>