The Industry Discloses Information

By July 1, 2016, in accordance with the requirements of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) and the Code of Practice of the Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (AIPM), which is a member of EFPIA, international pharmaceutical companies had published data on transfers of value to healthcare professionals and organizations in 2015.

his initiative is aimed at enhancing mutual accountability between the pharmaceutical industry and the medical community, as well as trust in the society. Starting from 2016, the disclosure of information will be made on an annual basis.In order to improve the transparency of cooperation, in 2013 the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) adopted as a standard of self-regulation the requirement to disclose information about the values transferred by pharmaceutical companies to healthcare professionals and organizations. Confirming its commitment to high ethical standards, the Association of International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (AIPM), being a member of EFPIA since 2012, fully shares the position of EFPIA.

The areas of cooperation between the members of the international pharmaceutical industry, healthcare professionals and organizations include donations to non-profit organizations, including educational grants provided to support medical education and eventually intended to improve the quality of healthcare for the patients; involvement of healthcare professionals by pharmaceutical companies in research and teaching, as well as clinical trials services; compensation of the costs incurred during for travel to the place where the services are rendered, lodging, and meals.

Open cooperation based on strict rules of self-regulation and the requirements of the Russian laws, including but not limited to the protection of personal data, reflects the industry’s high social responsibility and is eventually intended to facilitate the development of high-potent innovative medicines and current treatment methods for the benefit of the patients.

The requirements on the mandatory disclosure of payments made as a part of cooperation between the pharmaceutical industry and the medical community are already reflected in the US legislation and the regulations of some European countries.

“Increasing transparency through the individual disclosure of transfers of value is good for everyone, including healthcare professionals because it builds understanding of this important collaboration. When pharmaceutical companies research, develop and introduce new medicines in to clinical practice, it requires input from many stakeholders such as health professionals and healthcare organizations. The introduction of the EFPIA Disclosure Code helps to increase understanding of these important relationships,” thinks Richard Bergström, Director General of EFPIA.

"Due to the investments of the international industry in the Russian healthcare, inter alia, as part of cooperation with the medical community during R&D programs, professional development of doctors and other social projects, modern and highly effective medicines become available for the population of our country, even in the context of the current level of healthcare system financing. Moreover, an open and honest cooperation between the pharmaceutical industry and physicians is one of the crucial conditions for the progress in medicine, as well as an additional guarantee that the patient receives the required medical care. We hope that the initiative to improve transparency will be widely supported not only by the medical community, but also by other stakeholders, in particular by regulatory authorities and all the manufacturers," says Vladimir Shipkov, AIPM Executive Director.