Postion Paper on Industry

EuroScan’s position paper on the Collaboration of Early Awareness and Alert Systems with Industry was accepted by members in June 2003:

Introduction

EuroScan – The European Information Network on New and Emerging Health Technologies is a collaborative network of early awareness and alert (EAA) systems that exchanges information on new and emerging health technologies. EAA, early warning, horizon scanning or forecasting systems are the first stage of health technology assessment (HTA). They facilitate the rational adoption of new technologies in health care by providing policy makers with timely information on the potential consequences of the introduction of these technologies into the health care system.

To enable this process, collaboration with external individuals and groups is essential. One of the most important partnerships is with industry – pharmaceutical companies, device companies and manufacturers of diagnostic tests. However, it is recognised that working with these industries can be problematical mainly due to conflicts of interest. Members of EAA systems need accurate and up-to-date information that is often commercially sensitive and need to remain independent from commercial interests.

This position paper presents guidelines for collaboration between industry and individuals in EuroScan member agencies EAA systems. These guidelines aim to cultivate positive relationships and to ensure that collaboration happens on terms acceptable to both parties.

EuroScan does not currently collaborate with industry as a group but if it should choose to do so (e.g. with the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations (EFPIA)) it should be on the terms set out in these guidelines.

Guidelines

  • Members of EAA systems should in all respects remain entirely independent from industry, should act impartially and should not be influenced by social or business relations. Gifts and hospitality from industry should not be accepted.
  • Where there is a potential for a private interest to be relevant to the business of EAA systems the relevant interests should be declared and recorded in the individual EuroScan member’s register. The register should be kept up to date, and available for scrutiny.
  • Any contact with industry whether written or verbal must be transparent, documented and retrievable.
  • Euroscan members recognise that some information supplied by industry is considered as ‘commercial in confidence’. Members of EAA systems should undertake to uphold the confidential nature of material whether it has been divulged verbally, electronically or in writing.
  • Members of EAA systems should maintain a neutral approach to the identification and prioritisation of technologies and to any assessment of impact undertaken.
  • The information provided by EAA systems in their assessment of impact should reflect accurately and critically (as from any other source) any information that has been provided by industry, should make reference to the source, and should not endorse any particular product or company.
  • Any assessments of technologies that contain information provided by industry and not generally available should be sent to the relevant industry contact for comment before publication. Members of the individual EAA system will decide how to handle any comments returned.
  • The assessments of impact produced by EAA systems remain the responsibility of the individual EAA system, and they have the full authority to decide how they will be published and distributed.