Sales & Marketing Practices
Abbott sales representatives are the most visible interface between our company and physicians and other health professionals. Our employees play an important role in providing doctors with information about disease-specific data, new treatment approaches, patient initiatives, and in some cases, clinical trial results – all of which can significantly affect a patient's health. To address increased public concern about the interaction between sales and marketing personnel of health care companies and members of the medical community, we continually work to ensure that our employees meet the highest ethical and professional standards, and that they recognize and avoid situations that may present a conflict of interest. It is our goal to build trust with our customers through our daily engagement activities.
We provide all commercial sales and marketing employees with clear direction and policies on how we will market, promote and sell our products around the world. In the United States, these employees follow a set of Operating Procedures for Program Funding that incorporates both the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America and AdvaMed codes of conduct – industry standards for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, respectively. Outside of the United States, our employees comply with local policies that are aligned with applicable laws or industry codes. We also require all marketing and sales personnel to complete additional training related to the marketing, promoting and selling of our products. Abbott also supports the principles of the International Code of Marketing Breast Milk Substitutes.
The OEC is available to provide guidance and make recommendations to employees on an ongoing basis.
We also require our employees to abide by the high standards outlined in the Abbott Code of Business Conduct. The OEC conducts a prompt and thorough investigation into any allegations of inappropriate activity or behavior. We have a zero tolerance policy for behaviors that breach the code. Disciplinary action is taken, which can include termination, if violations are found.
IFPMA Global Marketing Code
The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA), a global nonprofit, nongovernmental organization that represents industry associations and research-based pharmaceutical and vaccine companies, updated its Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practice in 2006. The new code sets standards for the promotion of pharmaceutical products to health care professionals, as well as member companies' interactions with these individuals. Specifically, it introduces stricter and clearer guidelines for the pharmaceutical industry regarding organization of international events, company sponsorship, hospitality and entertainment, acceptable gifts and new procedures to ensure compliance. It also calls for the establishment of a network of compliance officers from more than 50 global companies, including those from Abbott, to share and exchange best practices with regard to ethical promotional practices on a regular basis.
The new code took effect on January 1, 2007. Abbott, along with others in our industry, helped launch the code by sharing best practices on implementing the standards.
