Reputation – HCPs: ABPI Code of practice and disclosure UK
Read more about how healthcare professionals view the relationship between pharmaceutical industry and the healthcare sector
HCPs continue to agree that the ABPI Code of Practice helps pharmaceutical companies operating in the UK act according to the highest ethical standards
The ABPI Code of Practice sets out the requirements the industry must comply with and supports companies’ commitment to self-regulation and to operate in a professional, ethical and transparent manner.
I think it’s been brilliant, I think where we are now compared to where we were when I first started pharmacy is a completely different ballgame. The industry is much more ethical, I think it knows what information that health professionals like myself need. There has been a massive transition, not that they were really unethical but there were a lot of things that went on 20-30 years which has stopped now, quite rightly so, and that’s part of the ABPI development of it Healthcare Professional
Awareness of the Code among HCPs remains stable since October 2020: around three in five healthcare professionals are familiar with it.
Those familiar with the Code have a highly positive opinion of it. Around seven in ten HCPs believe the Code demonstrates the commitment of the pharmaceutical industry to engaging in responsible relationships, to ensuring that transparency is respected and to supporting health professionals. Furthermore, a slightly higher proportion believe the Code is useful, credible, and relevant.
The ABPI Disclosure UK Database is less known by HCPs, and there are still some perceived barriers to transparency
The Disclosure UK database was created by the ABPI to make the relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and HCPs , and between the industry and health care organisations, open and transparent to the public. Two in five HCPs say they know the Disclosure UK Database at least a little, while almost a third say they never heard of it.
I think it’s really useful, it’s very important to know if someone has got a conflict of interest. It’s surprising how often people do have them and are hiding them. GP
Among those who are familiar, over one in ten gave permission to disclose payments or benefits as part of the initiative while almost a third didn’t.
Concerns about privacy and what their colleagues or patients would think and a limited knowledge of Disclosure UK are seen as the main reasons for not disclosing. When asked about what else can be done to encourage HCPs to disclose payments and/ or benefits in kind, suggestions are to educate and increase awareness, as well as reducing stigma around the initiative.
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Last modified: 20 September 2023
Last reviewed: 20 September 2023