Code of Conduct - Question & Answers

4b. Sponsorship to International Continuing Health Education Events, Scientific Symposia, Congresses - July 2005

Question 1:
Background:
The World Congress of Gastroenterology is an annual international conference, which will take place here in Montreal this year. X will have a booth there, which is developed by our global parent company from Hannover. Various X representatives from across the world will be manning the X booth. Physicians attending the conference will be from around the world as well. The products being displayed at the booth are products that are available here in Canada also.

1. We will have Canadian representatives at the conference. Are they allowed to work in the booth as long as they only provide Canadian product information?
2. Our global parent company wants to give away cameras. Is this allowed since it is an international event managed by our global parent?

Response:
1. Canadian Representatives can work in the booth as long as they only promote brands and indications approved within Canada. If there is product promotion at the booth for non-approved products in Canada but available elsewhere in the world, then a statement indicating this should be clearly displayed, reps may however not discuss this product or indication.
2. Regardless of who is holding the event the fact that the event is happening in Canada means that the Rx&D Code of Conduct needs to be adhered to, which in this case means no gifts or give aways are allowed.

Question 2:
We understand that HCPs cannot be sponsored to attend Conferences held in Canada. However, what is Rx&D's position on instances where an educational grant (a.k.a donation) is provided to a hospital and this organisation uses these funds in order to allow for a HCP within the facility to attend a Canadian Conference? What would Rx&D recommend in these instances?

Response:
When companies provide a donation, the donation should meet the requirements as set out in section 6 of the Code. Member companies are providing this support in the spirit of the Code, and as such cannot condone the use of monies for activities that fall outside the scope of the Code or the spirit of the Code.