EU Pharma Industry May Ban "Tchotchkes" Outright! Tchotchke Makers Threaten to Sue.

According to the Financial Times (here), the European Promotional Product Association (EPPA), a trade body representing "tchotchke" makers, is threatening to sue the EU pharmaceuticals industry over its plans to ban the widespread use of cheap branded promotional items.The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA) is expected to revise article 10 of its EFPIA Code on the Promotion of Prescription Only Medicines To, And Interactions With, Healthcare Professionals (HPC Code). Instead of allowing "inexpensive" branded promotional items to be given away if they are "relevant to the practice of medicine or pharmacy," the new code will ban these items outright, effective January 1, 2014. The U.S. pharma trade group (PhRMA) has a similar provision in its Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals, which was revised in July 2008. Article 11 of the PhRMA code specifies that "it is appropriate for companies, where permitted by law, to offer items designed primarily for the education of patients or healthcare professionals if the items are not of substantial value ($100 or less) and do not have value to healthcare professionals outside of his or her professional responsibilities." Hans Poulis, president and CEO of EPPA, claims tchotchkes "have no influence at all on the decision-making process of a healthcare professional." "His stance," notes the FT article, "is in contrast to the broader claims of the promotional products industry that its item...
Source: Pharma Marketing Blog - Category: Pharma Commentators Tags: tchotchkes PhRMA Guidelines EFPIA Europe Gifts to Physicians Source Type: blogs