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

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.

The Critical Need to Build a European Governance Model for Online Access to Medical Information Services: A Position Paper.

European pharmaceutical companies have a legal requirement to provide non-promotional Medical Information (MI) services to support healthcare professionals (HCPs) who are using their medicinal products. While the industry has self-regulating bodies with established Codes of Practice, these mainly focus on promotional messaging and commercial activities. In the absence of similar frameworks for MI, such services struggle to understand how to meet HCP digital expectations, often in fear of breaching the promotional codes. This is limiting access to the wealth of non-promotional patient-focussed information held within the industry. Meanwhile, a large volume of unregulated, low-quality information can be readily found on the internet. To understand the current status, the Medical Information Leaders in Europe (MILE) industry association performed a benchmarking survey which explored the online MI service provision of 13 mid-large pharmaceutical companies across Europe. This highlighted a great diversity in approach in terms of geographical coverage and content. Visibility and access for HCPs is complex, compromising online engagement and website utilisation. This MILE position paper highlights the critical need to establish a clear governance model, which empowers pharmaceutical company MI functions to provide unbranded, non-promotional, medicinal product information sources to support HCP online information needs. It is essential to build confidence, transparency and trust by establishing a practical quality framework with principles and standards for online MI services for HCPs.