Code of Conduct - Question & Answers

13. Advisory Boards - July 2005
 
Question 1:
When looking to run a Patient/Stakeholder Advisory Panel - Where within the guidelines should I look for advice and counsel?

Response:
The guiding principles state the following: Advisory boards and consultants are only to be used to gather scientific or commercial guidance.

Patient/Stakeholder Advisory Panels would be viewed in the same light as that of Advisory Boards and as such Section 13 of the Code would apply.

Question 2:
The initiative set forward is to conduct 5-6 consultant group meetings (with attendees not exceeding 20 HCP per session) during the upcoming months to meet specific objectives. Code Information Bulletin #4, however, states, "companies should guard against convening a high number of advisory/consultant sessions having the same or similar identified objective". Would Rx&D consider 5-6 sessions “excessive”? Due to the regional diversity across Canada, we feel that the number of meetings would allow for an appropriate evaluation of the particular issue. Can you please advise?

Response:
These code changes were reviewed and approved at SAGM in June 2005. Use of Advisory boards and consultants panels should be restricted, and only to gather scientific information or commercial guidance. As a guide, 5-6 panels per brand with a maximum of 100 HCP under contract would be appropriate for a large primary care brand.

Question 3:
Companies may provide financial support for a maximum of 5 individuals to attend any one International CHE event. If we sponsor 5 HCPs to attend the event can we also provide travel and accommodations to a Canadian speaker who is facilitating/speaking at the event or would that individual make up the five?

Response:
The speaker would be included in the total number (5).