ABPI welcomes Jeremy Hunt’s ‘Sunshine Rule’

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) has welcomed the ‘Sunshine Rule’, designed to improve transparency between healthcare professionals and industry

The Sunshine Rule comes as an addition to the existing industry-led drive for disclosure and transparency around industry relationships with healthcare professionals (HCPs).

 The UK pharmaceutical industry has been governed by a self-regulated Code of Practice for over 50 years which reflects and extends beyond the law.

This code provides a robust framework for acceptable levels of interaction by pharmaceutical companies and HCPs, including in relation to gifts and hospitality.

In addition, the code already has strict requirements on the interaction between sales representatives and healthcare professionals.

Dr Virginia Acha, ABPI’s executive director – research, medical and innovation, said: “We have led the way with the disclosure of payments to healthcare professionals in the UK since 2012 when we began publishing aggregate payments made by industry to doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

"We would welcome the opportunity to work with the Department of Health and NHS England as plans for the ‘Sunshine Rule’ develop, to ensure that we maximise our combined efforts on disclosure for the benefit of patients and the public.”