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Aussie pharmas must publicly disclose gifts to docs online

Pharma Compliance Alert, July 25, 2007

Australian pharma companies that manufacture and market prescriptions will have to report the type and cost of gifts that they give to healthcare professionals at educational meetings, the Australian Competition Tribunal ruled last month. The Tribunal ruled that all members of Medicines Australia, which represents more than 90% of the country's drug companies, must disclose the information online, reports The Australian.

According to the Tribunal, there is a risk that gifts such as travel and entertainment could influence physicians' prescribing. The ruling calls for member companies to report twice a year the events it sponsored, the number of people who attended, and their professional status. Medicines Australia must publicly post the disclosure online and internally review the reports.

Medicines Australia says that although it intends to cooperate with the ruling, it does not "feel it adds anything to the already large public benefit provided by our strong Code of Conduct."

Click here to read more reaction from Medicines Australia and to access its Code of Conduct.

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