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Collaboration between industry and healthcare professionals benefits patients. It is a relationship that has delivered numerous innovative medicines and changed the way many diseases impact on our livesThe relationship is based on an exchange of information. Activities can range from clinical research to sharing best clinical practice and exchanging information on how new medicines fit into the patient pathway. Healthcare professionals may receive support to attend educational meetings such as congress registration fees, travel and accommodation. HCPs provide expertise and insight by attending advisory boards, speaking at education and training meetings or acting in a consultancy role. More information on the types of activity undertaken by healthcare professionals and industry is available for download at the bottom of this page.

A new era of transparencyIn June 2016, companies began publicly disclosing payments made to healthcare professionals for activities such as Advisory Boards, speaking at meetings, consultancy, travel and accommodation. Bringing greater transparency to this, already well-regulated, vital relationship is about strengthening the basis for collaboration in the future. Industry is being proactive, based on its commitment to this relationship. You can access more information on the public disclosure of payments to healthcare professionals here.

Continuing to evolve the relationship
EFPIA works with leading European healthcare professional organisations and learned societies to develop best practice and share knowledge across a range of topics from research and development to the use of medicines, medical education and transparency.

At a company level, the nature of the interaction between companies and healthcare professionals continues to evolve. In recent years, companies have placed less emphasis on sales representatives and calls, instead focusing on providing opportunities for peer-to-peer interactions with company medics and researchers.

A well-regulated relationship

The relationship between industry and healthcare professionals is very well regulated. All interactions with HCPs are governed by EU Directive 2001/83/EC on the Community Code relating to medicinal products for human use, the EFPIA Code, as well as applicable EFPIA Member Associations’ national codes and any other applicable (local) internal policies, procedures and laws. The EFPIA Code governing interactions with HCPs is available for download at the bottom of this page.

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