January 1, 2009, marks the beginning of the New Year and of the effective date of a revised voluntary code by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) on interactions between pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals.
Changes in the revised code include:
• A prohibition on the distribution of non-educational items--including pens, mugs, and similar items--to healthcare providers and their staff.
• A prohibition on company sales representatives providing restaurant meals to healthcare professionals. Occasional meals provided in healthcare professionals’ offices in conjunction with informational presentations are still allowed.
• New provisions requiring pharmaceutical companies to ensure that their representatives receive sufficient training in applicable laws, regulations, and codes of practice governing interactions with healthcare professionals.
• Yearly certifications by pharmaceutical companies that they have processes in place to abide by the code.
Read the revised code.
