Clause 23 of the 2008 Code and its supplementary information covers relationships between pharmaceutical companies and patient organisations.
Pharmaceutical companies are permitted to interact with patient organisations or any user organisation such as disability organisations, carer or relative organisations and consumer organisations as long as all involvement is declared and transparent and in accordance with the Code. Relationships with patient organisations were first included in the 2006 edition of the Code.
According to Clause 23:
- Companies must make public by means of information on their websites or in their annual reports a list of all organisations to which they provide financial support and /or significant indirect/ non-financial support, which must include short descriptions of the nature of that support. This might include sponsoring materials and meetings.
- Companies working with patient organisations must have in place a written agreement setting out exactly what has been agreed, including funding, in relation to every significant activity or ongoing relationship.
- Written agreements must be certified by the pharmaceutical company. The output of sponsored/joint activities will, in most cases, need to be certified.
- A company must not make public use of a patient organisation's logo or proprietary material without the organisation's written agreement.
- A company must not seek to influence the text of patient organisation material in a manner favourable to their own commerical interests. This does not preclude a company from correcting factual accuracies.
- Companies must ensure that their sponsorship is always clearly acknowledged from the outset.
- No company can require to be the sole funder of a patient organisation or any of its major programmes.
The 2008 ABPI Code and patient organisations
For a powerpoint presentation that sets out the changes to the 2008 Code in relation to working with patient organisations, please click here.
Disclosure of support for patient organistions
The PMCPA has been asked to clarify what significant means in relation to significant indirect/non financial support. The following guidance has been agreed by the Code of Practice Appeal Board.
- Disclosure of support for patient organisations
Quick guide to the Code for patient organisations
Click below for the ‘Quick guide to the Code for Patient Organisations’.
- A Quick Guide to the Code for Patients and the Public
This guide is only intended as an introduction to the Code and a reminder of the most relevant clauses for patient organisations and the public. The detail of the Code should always be consulted on specific matters.
An article about patient groups and the ABPI Code, written by Heather Simmonds, Director of the PMCPA, is available to download below. This was first published in Connect (Autumn 2006), the quarterly newsletter of the Long-term Medical Conditions Alliance (LMCA).
- patient groups and the ABPI Code
Written agreements and certification
The PMCPA and the ABPI have issued advice on written agreements and certification. Click below to read this advice.
- Written agreements and certification
Advice on the Code
Based on feedback, the PMCPA has collated advice on key topics for patient organisations and pharmaceutical companies working together. This is attached below.
- Patient groups & pharma working together
Patient groups are reminded that the most recent advice on the Code is available in our ‘Latest advice on the Code’ section. If you would like advice on a specific Code-related issue, contact the PMCPA on 020 7747 8880 or by emailing us.
