European Commission eyes pharma ethics
pharmafile | September 27, 2010 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing | European Commission, corporate responsibility, ethics
The European Commission is to examine corporate responsibility in the pharmaceutical industry with the aim of developing a series of good practice recommendations.
The consultation will be the first time the Commission has addressed ethics and transparency in the pharmaceutical industry.
The industry is often criticised for not behaving responsibly, and over the summer a report by activists from Health Action International highlighted a lack of financial transparency between pharma and the patient groups it supports.
Launching the consultation Antonio Tajani, VP of the Commission responsible for industry and entrepreneurship, said: “I attach great importance to corporate social responsibility. In the field of pharmaceuticals it is all the more important for the activities of companies to be in line with the general interest.
“However, these companies have to operate in a commercial market. I think that it is time to launch a specific consultation at European level in this sector so that commercial imperatives can be combined with the needs of society.”
The Commission says it wants to promote a “dynamic exchange” between national authorities, the industry and other public sector and civil society stakeholders.
But announcing the consultation it also noted the huge contribution pharma makes to economic growth and employment in Europe. The EU is home to more than 4,500 pharma firms, employing over 600,000 people and producing medicines to a value of some 190 billion euros.
Access to medicines
The consultation will also look at access to medicines, an issue where the Commission sees many opportunities for innovative partnerships, and its process will have a two-fold focus on Africa and across Europe.
Within Europe, the Commission wants to reinforce collaboration between Member States and stakeholders and explore “non-regulatory conditions” for ensuring fair and timely access to medicines following their market authorisation. It also wants to improve access to innovative treatments after they have been approved.
Dominic Tyer
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