IT IS OUR MAIN DUTY TO WORK ON THE BASIS OF ETHICAL VALUES
Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD) ensures that its members apply the AİFD code of promotion in their pharmaceutical promotion and marketing efforts and places importance to tracking the application of ethical principles. Within this framework, you may find below a summary of the Code Practice Panel established upon taking into account the latest legislation of the European Union and recent innovations, as well as the activities of the panel.
The Code Practice Panel evaluates the complaints submitted by our members, other pharmaceutical companies which are not our members, physicians and consumers and safeguards the application of the “Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies Code of Good Promotional Practice” related to pharmaceutical promotion, formulated by our Association and enforced as of April 1, 2004. The panel operates in line with the regulation drafted so as to encompass the code of ethical promotion applied in Europe, in addition to the effective norms of the Ministry of Health. “The Code Practice Panel” is composed under the chairmanship of the Secretary General of the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD), by two independent members and five experts participating from member companies. The panel convenes at least once a month to take up the complaints, ensures that the errors in the promotional practice of the companies are remedied, if any, and follows them up. The Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD) which conducts training activities for the purpose of ensuring that the ethical code of promotion does not remain only on paper, has first held a training program for the general managers of member companies. Consequently, member companies participated in a full-day interactive training which was attended by more than 800 representatives of member companies, including their regional managers. Furthermore, a Summary Booklet of Code of Ethics encompassing the articles arranging the relations with physicians in the code of good promotion has been printed in 11.000 copies and distributed to all sales representatives of member companies.
For the purpose of disseminating better the code of promotion of the pharmaceutical industry and achieving cooperation, it is planned to share the content of this training with physicians and pharmacists as well, upon preparing congresses, seminars and short brochures.
As the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD), we continue to work upon constantly raising the bar in our ethical understanding. Regarding the provision of support by pharmaceutical companies for the participation of physicians, the rules designated by 36 international research-based pharmaceutical companies that are members of the Association of Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (AİFD) have been introduced to physicians. The introduction of these arrangements and rules to all physicians and representatives of the sector around Turkey took place with the distribution of a brochure prepared by AİFD member companies in May 2007. This activity is an indicator of our determination in raising the ethical standards in the sector to an international level. For the purpose of putting an end to the unfair speculations and discussions which arise occasionally, AİFD member companies have committed to comply with support these rules and provided information to physicians and healthcare professionals regarding them. Promotional activities complying with international ethical standards and laws carry a major importance in terms of medical and healthcare services. Because, our physicians may follow the latest developments and the new therapies in the medical world, relating to the diseases in their fields of specialization; hence, the level of quality and efficiency of the healthcare services in our country becomes enhanced. We continue to follow up the applications on an ongoing basis so as to ensure the conduct of these activities within the framework of AİFD Code of Promotional Practice.
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