'registered' scientific informants. An identification card will contain all their data, including the pharmaceutical company they work for. It is just one of the new rules envisaged by the Guidelines on scientific information on drugs that the Governors approved in the last session of the Conference of the Regions. Restrictive rules, which each Region will then decide how to implement specifically, monitoring their application. Whistleblowers will not be able to visit the doctor more than 3-5 times a year, they will not be able to meet white coats in the wards. Free samples of medicines and gadgets can be 'given away' with a dropper.
First of all, the Guidelines require that scientific representatives are provided with an identification card, with all the data and photos. At the same time, pharmaceutical companies communicate the names and data of their informants to the Regions in which they operate. The "suitable premises" for visits by informants (doctors' room, ward library, doctor's office) at "agreed times" must be indicated in the health service facilities. The invitation is to favor "collegial meetings", rather than "individual" ones, between operators and informants. The latter will not be able to carry out their activity in hospitalization wards, nor in specialist outpatient clinics during patient visiting hours. In affiliated medical offices, such as those of the family white coats, informants will be able to go at agreed times. Times to be indicated, in all cases, in "a special sign". Limit visits to each doctor to 3-5 per year at most.
Pharmacists are not allowed - underline the Guidelines - to provide information on the "prescribing habits of doctors". Homeopathic doses also for samples that can be left with doctors: no more than 10 a year for drugs, paid for by the NHS, on the market for 18 months and no more than 25 for those on sale for over 18 months. The delivery of these products "is subject to a written request" from the doctor. The gadgets cannot exceed 20 euros "per year per pharmaceutical company for each individual doctor or pharmacist". And since it is difficult to stay within this value, considering for example the cost of subscriptions to scientific journals, the free transfer of this material can only be made in favor of the operating units of local health authorities and hospitals, and not of the single white coat. Verifications are foreseen for participation in conferences and congresses. Finally, after getting to grips with a complex subject such as scientific information on drugs, the Regions "hope for the adoption of guidelines for the regulation of information on medical devices".
From "Pharmacist 33" – 21/07/06
First of all, the Guidelines require that scientific representatives are provided with an identification card, with all the data and photos. At the same time, pharmaceutical companies communicate the names and data of their informants to the Regions in which they operate. The "suitable premises" for visits by informants (doctors' room, ward library, doctor's office) at "agreed times" must be indicated in the health service facilities. The invitation is to favor "collegial meetings", rather than "individual" ones, between operators and informants. The latter will not be able to carry out their activity in hospitalization wards, nor in specialist outpatient clinics during patient visiting hours. In affiliated medical offices, such as those of the family white coats, informants will be able to go at agreed times. Times to be indicated, in all cases, in "a special sign". Limit visits to each doctor to 3-5 per year at most.
Pharmacists are not allowed - underline the Guidelines - to provide information on the "prescribing habits of doctors". Homeopathic doses also for samples that can be left with doctors: no more than 10 a year for drugs, paid for by the NHS, on the market for 18 months and no more than 25 for those on sale for over 18 months. The delivery of these products "is subject to a written request" from the doctor. The gadgets cannot exceed 20 euros "per year per pharmaceutical company for each individual doctor or pharmacist". And since it is difficult to stay within this value, considering for example the cost of subscriptions to scientific journals, the free transfer of this material can only be made in favor of the operating units of local health authorities and hospitals, and not of the single white coat. Verifications are foreseen for participation in conferences and congresses. Finally, after getting to grips with a complex subject such as scientific information on drugs, the Regions "hope for the adoption of guidelines for the regulation of information on medical devices".
From "Pharmacist 33" – 21/07/06
