Codes
All pharmaceutical companies belonging to the IPIA comply with the Code of Ethics for Pharmaceutical Marketing, which regulates the marketing of medicinal products and their relations with healthcare professionals, as well as relations between the pharmaceutical industry and patient organisations.
The Code of Ethics applies to companies marketing medicines in Lithuania. It aims to ensure that the activities of pharmaceutical companies in Lithuania are transparent and comply with the principles of professional ethics:
- Pharmaceutical companies carry out their promotional activities properly.
- Avoid unfair practices and potential conflicts of interest with healthcare professionals.
- Comply with all applicable laws and regulations.
The Code of Ethics for Pharmaceutical Marketing aims to foster an environment in which the public can properly decide on the use of medicinal products, taking into account the beneficial properties of each product and the healthcare needs of the individual.
In Lithuania, 40 companies, united by the Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry Association (IPIA) and the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PMA), are guided by this code.
More information: www.vaistukodeksas.lt
In order to ensure smooth progress in medicine necessary for public health, companies in the pharmaceutical industry have adopted a Healthcare Professionals (HCP) and Healthcare Organisations (HCO) Disclosure Code.
According to the Disclosure Code, companies undertake to disclose:
- information on their contribution to the development of medical competence and qualifications;
- information on the use of medical practitioners in clinical trials related to medical innovations;
- other information.
This information is provided by companies in the pharmaceutical industry by disclosing transfers of value to healthcare professionals or healthcare organisations.
Value can be a non-monetary benefit (e.g. when a company finances the self-improvement of a medical professional at a conference dedicated to their therapeutic field by paying for flight tickets or conference registration fees) or a cash payment (e.g. when the company pays for a doctor’s participation in clinical trials of innovative treatments).
IPIA members implement the provisions of the Disclosure Code in accordance with applicable competition and data protection laws, regulations, and other statutory requirements.
More information: www.vaistukodeksas.lt
The Code of Ethics for Pharmaceutical Marketing, which governs the marketing of medicinal products and their relations with healthcare professionals, as well as relations between the pharmaceutical industry and patient organisations, is supervised by the Pharmaceutical Marketing Ethics Commission
The Commission ensures that complaints received from both the pharmaceutical industry and non-members are treated in the same way, irrespective of the complainants.
The Ethics Commission is elected for two years and consists of seven members, including the Chair of the Commission. The Commission is chaired by someone who does not belong to the pharmaceutical sector and is approved by consensus between the IPIA and the PMA. The IPIA and the PMA delegate three members to the Commission.
The Commission’s main functions and responsibilities are: organise the work of the Commission, supervise compliance with the Code, examine, evaluate and decide on reports of breaches of the Code.
More information: www.vaistukodeksas.lt
