Unethical business practices undermine social progress and result in inequality. They also break trust and tarnish the reputation of those involved in unprofessional conduct. Most importantly, unethical practices in the healthcare sector harm patients and their families.
In a show of commitment to ethical business practices, the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP) has reinvigorated its “I Stand for Integrity” campaign, which was first launched in 2013.
This initiative underscores the crucial role of integrity in advancing patient welfare, good corporate citizenship, and healthcare innovation in the country. The reaffirmation of the campaign for integrity was participated in by key figures from government, professional healthcare organizations, patient advocacy groups, and the media. Their presence highlighted a unified and multi-stakeholder approach to attain ethical standards in the healthcare community.
PHAP President Dr. Diana Edralin emphasized the campaign’s significance.
“The biopharmaceutical industry is unlike any other. Our innovations can prolong and save lives. We continue to hold ourselves to high standards. We owe it to the patients who rely on our medicines,” she said.
Various groups expressed support for the campaign. They are the House of Representatives Committee on Health, the Philippine Competition Commission, the Professional Regulation Commission, the Philippine Medical Association, the Philippine College of Physicians, the Philippine Hospital Association, the Private Hospitals Association of the Philippines, the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations, the Cancer Warriors Foundation, the Baguio City Health Committee, the Philippine Press Institute, the Philippine Nurses Association, and the Anti-Red Tape Authority, among others.
During the reinvigorated campaign, PHAP showcased its initiatives that seek to raise the level of professionalism and ethical conduct in the pharmaceutical industry.
First is the PHAP Code of Practice.
Launched in 1993, the organization established the PHAP Code of Practice to ensure that medical decisions are made in the best interests of patients.
The Code of Practice fully adopted the Department of Health Administrative Order 2015-0053 Implementing Guidelines on the Promotion and Marketing of Prescription Products and Medical Devices. This aims to ensure that ethical interactions between industry and other stakeholders shall be guided by the principles embodied in the 2011 Mexico City and Kuala Lumpur Business Codes of Ethics as endorsed by heads of states of APEC Member economies, including the Philippines.
The MCP guiding principles are: Healthcare and Patient Focus, Integrity, Independence, Legitimate Intent, Transparency, Accountability, Appropriateness and Advancement. All of these are aligned with the PHAP Code of Practice.
The PHAP Code also has enforcement mechanisms, and these are overseen by an independent Ethics Committee.
The second initiative is the organization’s compliance with the Food and Drug Administration’s AO No. 2021-0036 which requires industry members to “Submit Reports on Disclosure of Financial Relationships with Health Care Providers and Health Care Professionals.”
Since its establishment in 2021, PHAP member companies have been diligently complying with FDA AO 2021-0036 by submitting financial reports through the FDA Online Financial Disclosure System. Adherence to this system promotes transparency in interactions with healthcare professionals and stakeholders which is key to being viewed as trustworthy partners.
The third undertaking is the Integrity and Proficiency Program for the Pharmaceutical Sector (IPPS).
The IPPS is a training tool for cascading proficiency and ethical practices. The modules include “Jurisprudence and Business Ethics.” This program has been accredited by the PRC since 2013. There are around 6,769 medical representatives certified by the IPPS since 2015.
The fourth is the Philippine Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaborations.
Since 2018, PHAP adopted the “Consensus Framework for Ethical Collaboration Between Patients’ Organizations, Healthcare Professionals, and the Pharmaceutical Industry.”
This Consensus Framework was developed in 2014 by global umbrella organizations namely the International Alliance of Patient Organizations, the World Medical Association, the International Council of Nurses, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Industry Associations, the International Pharmaceutical Federation, and the International Hospital Federation.
In 2020, various organizations ratified our own Philippine Consensus Framework with 20 signatories. Among them are the Philippine Alliance of Patient Organizations, the Philippine Medical Association, the Philippine Pharmacists Association, and the Philippine Nurses Association along with and a number of DoH-retained hospitals. Now, all 87 DoH-retained hospitals are signatories to the Consensus Framework.
Fifth is the “Data Privacy Protection in the Pharma Industry” program. PHAP, in partnership with the National Privacy Council, is currently developing the Pharma Data Privacy Code in collaboration with the National Privacy Commission Council.
Apart from these five initiatives, individual members of PHAP have put in place their own rules and policies that govern their interactions.
With all these frameworks in place, the biopharmaceutical industry is confident that its members can act with integrity in their interactions. Together with the various sectors, we stand, and will continue to stand, for integrity.
Teodoro B. Padilla is the executive director of Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines (PHAP). PHAP represents the biopharmaceutical medicines and vaccines industry in the country. Its members are in the forefront of research and development efforts for COVID-19 and other diseases that affect Filipinos.
