Highly Commended
Ethical Standards in Health and Life Sciences Group
Summary of work
Following publication in 2009 of the Royal College of Physicians paper on the relationship between healthcare professionals and the industry, the ABPI looked to demonstrate commitment to working in new ways as partners in healthcare.
In November 2010, this resulted in an end to the practice of giving branded promotion aids to HCPs – a symbolic gesture of the industry's desire to work together to change its practice.
In January 2011, a joint statement underlining the importance of the relationship between industry and HCPs in delivering benefit to patients from research through education and in collaborative projects was disseminated by all the signed-up organisations, including the Department of Health and medical Royal Colleges.
From this the Ethical Standards in Health and Life Sciences (ESHLS) group was born. Co-chaired by Sir Richard Thompson, President of the Royal College of Physicians, and Deepak Khanna, President of the ABPI, the ESHLS group has become the main vehicle to address reputational issues.
Judges’ comments
In 2009 this initiative was deemed impossible – but it has happened and it is a mega outcome.
