A Principles Framework for Digital Provision of Medical Information for Healthcare Professionals.

Abstract

European pharmaceutical companies have a legal requirement to provide non-promotional medical information (MI) services to support healthcare professionals (HCPs) using their medicinal products. While we are seeing an increased HCP preference and expectation towards digital channels, the lack of a compliance framework relating to the provision of non-promotional MI services is a key factor complicating and compromising the ability for companies to meet this need. Meanwhile, the internet is dominated by a large volume of unregulated, easy access, and potentially low-quality information from diverse sources. The Medical Information Leaders in Europe (MILE) association is therefore proposing a framework of principles to support pharmaceutical companies with the digital provision of MI services; these relate to digital access to non-promotional, medicinal product information to support clinical decision making and patient care. The three established European national MI associations have already considered the framework and expressed their endorsement. MILE continues to invite stakeholders, including pharmaceutical companies, regulators, national industry associations and healthcare professional bodies to engage and help refine and implement this framework. This publication does not constitute legal advice; decision making and accountability remains with each pharmaceutical company.