Code of Conduct - Question & Answers

4a. Continuing Health Education - September 2005
 
Question 1: (from a HCP association)
The Canadian Association of X is a National specialty body for Y. We interact with industry partners (many of whom are Rx&D members) on scientific and educational events. The X has a membership category whereby non-physician, non-health care providers may join the organization to keep abreast of activities and many of our industry members have opted to join the organization. As such, we have X members from industry and this includes many Rx&D companies.

The X often hosts events, for example a Canada X night at the large American X meeting, whereby the Y membership is invited to attend and network while abroad at meetings. Some of our Rx&D companies have participated in these events, and in many cases these people are members of the X. Other Rx&D companies have suggested that this is against Rx&D Code and have not participated, even though they are also registered X members.

I would like to know what the Rx&D interpretation is regarding this. X will not become a monitoring body for this – that is up to the Rx&D companies to monitor themselves. However, the X would like to know what the ruling is with respect to this as some of our Rx&D partners have approached us with this question.

Response:
Sections 4A and 4B of the Rx&D Code of Conduct address the framework of CHE events and the sponsorship of such events. Partnership between Rx&D member companies and health care professionals should be based on shared health values and mutual respect. Member companies, providing that they respect both the spirit and the letter of the Code of Conduct in their relationships with health care professionals in CHE's context, can participate to the level and extent they deem appropriate, in events such as described above.