Pharma group urges adoption of Code of Ethics for industry

Advocates of ethical conduct in the medicine business get another strong backer, this time among the pharmaceutical industry.

The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (Phap), an organization of research-based medicines sector in the country, is strongly backing the Food and Drugs Administration’s adoption of a Code of Ethics for the pharmaceutical industry.

Phap chair Teodoro Padilla said: “Ethical principles are universal and cut across cultures.” “[Adherence to] universal, ethical principles benefits patients and improves access to healthcare.” He called on everyone to respect “the principles that will benefit us all.”

Sanction

In response, the FDA said it will sanction drug companies that will not comply with the guidelines of the MCP. Dr. Cynthia Diza, officer-in-charge of the FDA ethical market communications unit, said they will not hesitate to cancel the license to operate and revoke the certificate of registration of erring companies.

In a forum last April 1 with partners Medicines Transparency Alliance (MeTA), Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) and Philippine Medical Association, PHAP reiterated its call for an industry code of ethics based on “The Mexico City Principles for Voluntary Code of Business Ethics in the Biopharmaceutical Sector,” or the Mexico City Principles (MCP), which is anchored on healthcare and patient focus, integrity, independence, legitimate intent, transparency and accountability, and laid out the standards for the ethical promotion of medicines.

Padilla alleges that some non-PHAP-affiliated drug companies are reluctant to adopt the MCP by reasoning that it is “only voluntary,” contrasting it with PHAP member companies which since 1993 are strictly governed by an “internationally accepted code of practice.”

The Philippines is reportedly the first country to formally adopt a regional voluntary code of business ethics for the biopharmaceutical sector, aimed at promoting ethical principles to advance patient welfare and boost the national integrity campaign.

In its circular in September 2013 which adopted the MCP, the FDA said “In delivering the best quality healthcare to patients, it is essential that professionalism and high ethical standards are maintained between the biopharmaceutical companies, the health professionals, and the regulatory body.”

“Lack of consistent ethical standards increases the cost of doing business which in turn lower sales growth, productivity and the ability to enter new markets, constriction in the access to capital, and may go as far as corruption, bribery and additional sanctions and penalties from regulatory bodies,” the FDA added.

Hurting economies

PCP ethics committee chair Dr. Francisco Tranquilino, who also acts as PHAP adviser, said unethical behavior hurts economies—like reduced foreign investment and undermined health systems—and individual interests—like increased costs of doing business through bribes and penalties, lowered sales growth and productivity, constricted access to capital and undermined financial growth in the long term.

Recently, MeTA Philippines,  a multistakeholder coalition of agencies and organizations in government, civil society, academe and health professional associations, said that  the adoption of the MCP will address the concerns on less than favorable practices among some pharmaceutical companies, medical practitioners and government health agencies.

Speaking to reporters, MeTa Philippines chair Roberto Pagdanganan said that “ensuring ethical conduct, transparency and accountability in our actions is key in the delivery of healthcare and in improving outcomes.”