Applying the Eucomed Code of Ethics

Ethical Collaboration:Examples and BestPracticesThe Code of Ethics clearly illustrates the ‘rules of engagement’.Professional collaboration between medical technology companiesand HCPs includes:Support of scientific and educational conferences• Support is permissible only for bona fide – third-party–independently-run conferences that promote scientific knowledge,medical advancement or assist in the delivery of effective healthcare.Financial, scientific, technical, organisational and/or logisticalassistance may be provided.• Members may sponsor HCPs attendance to such third-partyconferences and congresses, in compliance with the relevantlaws, regulations and professional codes of conduct. If no suchrequirements are prescribed, transparency should be maintainedvia prior notification of the relevant hospital administration orcompetent authority.Entering into legitimate consulting agreements with HCPs• Agreements must have a valid purpose and represent a fair marketvalue for the services provided. Consultants are to be selectedbased on objective criteria (e.g. on the basis of their expertise orqualification). If no consents and approvals are required by therelevant laws, regulations and professional codes of conduct, priornotification should be made to the relevant competent authority.Provision of educational grants and charitable donations• Grants may be for independent medical research, advancementof medical science or patient and public education programmes.Grants can only be made to legitimate entities and not to individualHCPs.• All charitable donations should be appropriately documented anddetail the purpose of the charity and the nature of its activities.Payments should be made directly to the charity.Provision of modest hospitality and gifts• Hospitality should be reasonable in value, subordinate in timeto the primary purpose of the professional collaboration beingundertaken and in compliance with the relevant laws, regulationsand professional codes of conduct.• Gifts must relate to the HCP’s practice, benefit patients or serve agenuine educational function.