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RANZCP engagement with the pharmaceutical and medical device industry

Position statement Last updated: May 2024 Published in Australia Reference: PS #78

This Position Statement provides guidance on how the College may engage with pharmaceutical and medical device companies, and other commercial companies.

Purpose

This position statement outlines the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) position on acceptance of advertising and sponsorship funding from the pharmaceutical industry and medical device industry. The policy will promote greater transparency in relation to the RANZCP’s engagement with these industries.  

Background

The RANZCP regularly undertakes review of its organisational engagement with industry. As a part of this process, the RANZCP consults with its membership to capture an accurate reflection of members’ views on its relationship with the pharmaceutical industry. 

In 2013, the RANZCP Board approved nine principles to outline the RANZCP’s engagement with the pharmaceutical industry and reflect the general consensus views held by the public and members. Further consultation about this position statement was undertaken within the RANZCP in 2015, and the principles remain unchanged.  

In April 2023 the RANZCP Board agreed that the College will no longer accept any sponsorship or funding from the pharmaceutical industry or medical device industry for the annual RANZCP Congress from 2024 onwards. The decision was informed by the views of members of the RANZCP Members’ Advisory Council, as well as those with lived experience of mental illness, to be reflective of the general expectations around how the RANZCP’s main educational conference is perceived. This Position Statement has been updated to reflect this decision.  

This Position Statement also provides guidance on how the College may engage with pharmaceutical and medical device companies, and other commercial companies, beyond Congress. 

The College will continue to review its position on this matter through member consultation and update this statement accordingly. 

Scope and definitions

This Position Statement refers specifically to the engagement between the RANZCP as a professional organisation and the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, and not to the relationship of individual members, research institutions, provider organisations or other relevant parties with the industry. Psychiatrists are to be guided on these matters by Ethical Guideline 5: The relationship between psychiatrists and commercial organisations within the healthcare industry.

For the purpose of this Position Statement, the term ‘industry’ refers to the pharmaceutical industry and medical device industry. 

The principles do not cover government agencies, non-pharmaceutical businesses, charitable trusts and foundations. 

Key statements

  • The RANZCP’s engagement with industry will occur in a transparent manner, and will not imply RANZCP endorsement of any industry activities or products.
  • The ‘RANZCP’ includes the RANZCP Board and its constituent committees, Branches, Faculties, Sections and their constituent committees.
  • The purpose of this document is to provide guidance and principles for the RANZCP when engaging with industry. It is acknowledged that some RANZCP groups / members choose not to engage with these industries and may, therefore, take steps in addition to those set out in this position statement - for instance, undertaking conferences and activities independent of support by pharmaceutical and medical device industries.
  • The RANZCP does not accept any sponsorship or funding from the pharmaceutical industry or medical device industry for the annual RANZCP Congress from 2024 onwards.

Principles and defined intentions

The nine principles agreed by the RANZCP Board are listed below.  Each principle includes a series of annotations outlining the intent of the principle.  These should be used as a guide by both members and industry to inform RANZCP engagement with the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Queries in regard to interpretation or implementation of the principles should be directed to ranzcp@ranzcp.org 

Principle 1

The RANZCP’s reputation and independence must be considered paramount in its dealings with industry and take precedence over all other considerations.

Intent: To ensure that the RANZCP’s reputation is upheld through avoiding transactions with the pharmaceutical industry and medical device industry that could call into question the independence of the RANZCP in development of education and training activities, resources, publications and events.  

1.1. Guidance and adherence to the principles will be overseen by the Board.

1.2. The RANZCP will ensure that its engagement with industry adheres with these principles and occurs in a transparent manner.   

1.3. RANZCP Officers and staff must not receive gifts or any other form of inducement from pharmaceutical or medical device companies directly in relation to any RANZCP activities. 

Principle 2

Dealings by the RANZCP with industry must be transparent and readily discernible by members and the public.

Intent: To ensure that members of the RANZCP and the general public are able to easily access information outlining the extent of the RANZCP’s engagement with industry.   

2.1. The RANZCP will provide within its Annual Report, relevant information relating to the business relationship between the RANZCP and the pharmaceutical industry and the medical device industry.

2.2. The RANZCP will record financial information arising from its engagement with industry.

Principle 3:

The RANZCP must not receive any funding from industry to support research.

Intent: To ensure that all research undertaken by the RANZCP is independent of industry and not be influenced in any way. 

3.1. All support received for research will be managed by a common RANZCP fund for research (for example, the Research and Education Foundation).  RANZCP Foundation has opted not to accept any financial contributions from industry to support its work.

Principle 4

RANZCP approved or endorsed training must not be funded or influenced industry by either directly or by third parties.

Intent: To ensure that the RANZCP’s Fellowship training and Advanced Certificate programs remain independent and are free from influence from industry. 

4.1. It is not permissible for industry to directly or indirectly influence the RANZCP Fellowship training program or any associated RANZCP materials. 

4.2. RANZCP-managed general educational activities which trainees would attend or benefit from (for example conferences) may receive support from industry. However, the RANZCP will retain control over the content of the educational activity and comply with all other principles as outlined in this document. 

Principle 5

RANZCP approved, accredited or endorsed CPD materials must be controlled and decided by the RANZCP and must not be influenced by industry directly or indirectly, either in their inception or implementation.

Intent: To ensure that the content of all CPD materials developed by the RANZCP are independent of the company that has provided funding.

5.1. The RANZCP must not receive industry funding to support publication of CPD materials (printed materials or online materials) developed centrally through the Committee for Continuing Professional Development (CCPD).

5.2. The RANZCP may receive funding from industry to support the publication or distribution of other CPD materials.  However, such funding can only be received into a RANZCP managed fund and control of the content must be retained by the RANZCP.  

Principle 5a

The content of RANZCP approved, accredited or endorsed CPD events must be controlled and decided by the RANZCP and must not be influenced by industry directly or indirectly, either in their inception or implementation.

Intent: To ensure that the content of all CPD events organised by the RANZCP are independent of the company that has provided funding. 

5.3. The RANZCP does not accept funding from industry for any aspect of its annual Congress. 

5.4. CPD events managed by the RANZCP or held at Branch level, or under the auspices of Faculties and Sections, will retain RANZCP control over the title, educational and/or scientific content of any event, and the level of advertising, notwithstanding any support which may be received by industry.

5.5. Responsibility for organising content of the event will be independent.  For example, companies providing funding for events cannot determine the topic or content to be discussed.    

5.6. RANZCP members participating or presenting at RANZCP events should disclose any relevant conflicts of interest. 

5.7. The RANZCP cannot endorse CPD events hosted by industry in accordance with the RANZCP’s CPD endorsement policy.

Principle 6 

Marketing space purchased by industry at conferences or other events will be positioned to provide members with a choice about whether or not they wish to access this marketing space.

Intent: Marketing (exhibition) space may be made available to industry at RANZCP events within the designated exhibition area.   

6.1. Exhibition or marketing space may be purchased by industry provided that:

      • Exhibition or marketing space sold is not at the RANZCP annual Congress.
      • All exhibition and marketing will be conducted within the designated exhibition area, and where practicable be segregated from the main event.
      • If catering is provided, this is positioned, where practicable in a designated area and the RANZCP will ensure that members who do not wish to view pharmaceutical advertising are able to access alternate catering which is clearly separate from exhibitors. 
      • Exhibition stands are the only RANZCP sanctioned area at events where the pharmaceutical industry can directly promote a particular product.

Principle 6a

Industry funding of RANZCP publications will be confined to the sale of advertising space. The scientific content must not be influenced by industry either directly or indirectly.

Intent: Engagement with industry in relation to RANZCP publications will be limited to advertisements in RANZCP journals in line with the RANZCP’s advertising guidelines. 

6.2. All advertising must comply with the ‘RANZCP Advertising guidelines for RANZCP journals’.

6.3. Advertising in RANZCP journals may include direct promotion of a particular product.

6.4. Pharmaceutical and medical device companies may advertise events in RANZCP publications provided such advertising does not imply RANZCP endorsement of the event (this includes for example, events held at hospitals, universities, journal clubs, etc.). Such advertising may take place as paid advertising clearly separate from RANZCP content.  

Principle 7

Industry sponsorship of awards, CPD activities, Congress, conferences, events, meetings, and publications, in which money is provided for specific activities in exchange for control of content or naming rights is not allowed.

Intent: Sponsorship of RANZCP activities is allowable provided that the RANZCP retains control over the title, educational and/or scientific content of any event or product.  All sponsorship should be to contribute to the general revenue for operating the event or activity rather than for specific activities and, accordingly, named sessions, awards and other activities are not allowed.  

Sponsorship (or partnership) packages are allowable to contribute to the general revenue of a RANZCP event or meeting in line with the following:

7.1 Sponsorship (or partnership) packages are not permitted to be sold at the RANZCP annual Congress.

7.2. Industry will have no influence on the educational or scientific content. 

7.3. RANZCP lectures, prizes and fellowships cannot be named after industry or individual products. 

7.4. Proportionate and discreet acknowledgement of a company’s contribution to an event may be given as follows:

      • Acknowledgement of any support may appear in the final program for the relevant RANZCP event.
      • Acknowledgement of support can be displayed before and after the meeting or presentation as a part of an electronic slide show or otherwise.  This should not be displayed during presentations, seminars, lectures or other educational activities.

7.5. Independent events may be hosted by industry (for example named breakfast, lunches, dinners) at the same location as a RANZCP event, but must be identified as a non-RANZCP event. 

      • All advertising and promotion of events hosted by industry will be clearly marked as a non-RANZCP event. Such events will be published in a clearly marked and separate section of the event Handbook and/or RANZCP events listed in the Program.  
      • Delegates will be given the opportunity to opt-out of being included in the public list of registrants at the time of registration. 

Principle 8

All industries engaged with the RANZCP must subscribe to the relevant Code of Conduct that governs their industry.

Intent: To ensure that any company that does engage with the RANZCP acts appropriately and meets the expectations of the industry. 

8.1. The RANZCP will not accept support from industry that does not subscribe to the relevant Code of Conduct. 

Principle 9

RANZCP statements or guidelines in relation to therapeutic products will take the risks of industry bias into account and take all necessary actions to minimise it.

Intent: To ensure that all statements and guidelines developed by the RANZCP are not influenced by industry.  

9.1. The RANZCP will not accept any funding from industry for development of its statements and guidelines.

9.2. RANZCP members involved in the development of good practice, or consensus statements such as clinical guidelines, including consumer and carer guidelines with the RANZCP, must declare any conflicts of interest. This includes any personal interest or association with the industry relevant to the subject of the publication or article.

Associated Documents

References

The Royal College of Psychiatrists, London.  Relationships with pharmaceutical and other commercial organisations.

Disclaimer: This information is intended to provide general guidance to practitioners, and should not be relied on as a substitute for proper assessment with respect to the merits of each case and the needs of the patient. The RANZCP endeavours to ensure that information is accurate and current at the time of preparation, but takes no responsibility for matters arising from changed circumstances, information or material that may have become subsequently available.