Australia leading world in medicines Code, claims trade group

Australia is a world leader in pharmaceutical industry conduct, and will continue to work towards further transparency of industry’s interactions with health care professionals, pharma trade group Medicines Australia’s chief executive Brendan Shaw said last week.

Responding to the implementation of the new expanded International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations’ Code of Practice, Dr Shaw said Australian consumers can be confident that the standards of ethical conduct and transparency demanded by the Medicines Australia Code of Conduct far exceed those of other countries.

“The expanded global Code is a positive step forward. It articulates high-level principles that hold companies to a high standard of ethical conduct,” Dr Shaw said, adding: “It also imposes new requirements that have been in place in Australia for many years, such as banning personal gifts and the provision of entertainment at educational events.”