Large Canadian Drug Companies Begin Voluntarily Disclosing Information

Ten well-known drug companies in Canada have started to voluntarily disclose how much money they pay to physicians, hospitals, and health care groups, with the information posted on their websites. The ten companies participating in the voluntary disclosure are: GlaxoSmithKline, Amgen, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead, Eli Lilly, Merck, Novartis, Purdue, Roche, and AbbVie Corp. There are three different categories that the voluntary disclosure covers: fees for health care professional services/transfer of value to Canadian health care professionals; funding to health care organizations; and sponsorship of Canadian health care professionals travel. The fees for service category covers any direct or indirect payments made to a Canadian health care provider, defined as: a payment to the HCP as an individual; a payment to the HCP’s incorporated name or business name for services rendered by that HCP; a payment indirectly to the HCP through a third-party intermediary; or a payment made to a health care organization for services rendered by an HCP associated with or employed by the health care organization. The funding to health care organizations covers any direct or indirect funding to a health care organization for supporting efforts related, but not limited, to charitable, educational, and scientific activities. The provision specifically excludes any funding resulting a purchase/exchange of goods or services, such as commercial booths or business to business/partnership agree...
Source: Policy and Medicine - Category: American Health Authors: Source Type: blogs