Sustainability and ethics Flashcards
What are the issues with how the public view big business?
Multinational corporations are viewed suspiciously by consumers, taxpayers and voters
The needs of patients seem secondary, there is a greater emphasis on a return on investment from R&D and reducing the amount of capital it is allocated (Tax relief for R&D)
Elimination of in-house teams and the flight of scientific expertise into the biotech/biopharma sector
Industry suppression of negative data in academic publications and restriction of freedom of academics to disclose such data
Marketing disease - “peddling elixirs for trivial human conditions rather than focusing on finding drugs that ameliorate or cure debilitating disease”
What is DTC advertising?
direct to consumer advertising is seen as an unethical method of promoting drugs. Using celebrities to endorse drugs or offering lifestyle enhancements rather than treatments, promoting inappropriate treatments and off-label use of medicines
UK does not allow advertising of prescription-only drugs, but can advertise OTC medication to the general public
Not advertising – reference material, information on disease (not medical products) or correspondence
What is the blue guide?
describes regulations for advertising and promotion of medicines in the UK, from the MHRA
Medicines have the potential for benefit to individuals who use them and to the public health. But all effective medicines may be associated with adverse effects.
The law recognises that medicines should not be treated as an ordinary general commodity by placing specific restrictions on them.
What are the factors that cause the pharmaceutical sector to be prone to corruption?
Pharmaceutical company bribing doctors for prescribing its medicines irrespective of a health need
Government employee facilitating the infiltration of substandard medicines into the distribution system
Anti-corruption policies are needed throughout the pharmaceutical value chain to increase transparency around key decision points and strengthen the accountability of actors
What are the 4 overarching challenges of corruption in the pharma industry?
Lack of objective data of corruption - There is often data manipulation and lack of transparency of clinical trial data
Weak legislative and regulatory framework
Profit maximisation goes beyond ethical norms
Lack of leadership committed to anti-corruption efforts
What is the difference between apologia and apology?
Apologia – limited liability, may express concern but offers a counteroffensive.
Not wanting liability for their firm
Apology – full liability, acknowledge guilt and present the accused as defenseless
