Hong Kong issues revised marketing practices code
This article was originally published in Scrip
Executive Summary
The Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (HKAPI) has revised its code of pharmaceutical marketing practice, to ensure healthcare professionals receive accurate, fair and scientific-based information about medicines from pharmaceutical companies. The revisions, which became effective in April this year, align Hong Kong with the global standards set by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), which released its most recent edition of its code last January (Scrip Online, January 11th, 2007) outlining clearer guidelines for conduct, including limiting sponsorship and prohibiting the offer of cash and personal gifts. The revised Hong Kong code of practice, the 13th edition of the guidelines, became effective in April this year.