Over the next ten days, pharmaceutical companies will be disclosing details of collaborations with health professionals (HCPs) and healthcare organisations (HCOs) across Europe. The figures, which will be available online, underline industry’s investment in European healthcare, enabling the development of new medicines through sharing best clinical practice, exchanging information on how new medicines fit into the patient pathway and shaping the future of clinical research. 

Director General of EFPIA, Richard Bergström said, “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 organisations. The introduction of the EFPIA Disclosure Code helps to increase understanding of these important relationships.” 

Covering activities such as research and educational grants to healthcare organisations as well as transfers of value to individuals for activities such as speaking at educational meetings, consultancy and attending advisory boards as well as sponsorship to attend educational meetings, the first disclosures will address transfers of value made during 2015.

Bringing greater transparency to these already well-regulated and essential relationships is about strengthening the basis for collaboration in the future. Interactions between industry, HCPs and HCOs are vital to ensure we can continue to develop medicines that advance healthcare and continue to improve the lives of patients across Europe.