Janssen-Cilag: free stethoscope offered to GPs deemed compliant on cost and perceived value (AUTH/1879/7/06)

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/1879/7/06
Parties	Paragraph 17/Director v Janssen-Cilag
Issue	Cost and perceived value of a stethoscope offered as a promotional aid to GPs
Product/material	Tramacet e-detail aid (invitation to claim a free stethoscope)
Applicable Code year	2006
Clause(s) considered/listed	18.1
Panel decision	No breach
Stethoscope cost to company	£2.20 each excluding VAT (including artwork) (company stated £2.16)
Proceedings commenced	11 August 2006
Case completed	5 September 2006
Appeal	No appeal

Reviewed by Dr Anzal Qurbain (FFPM) — ABPI Final Signatory

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During consideration of a separate case (AUTH/1868/7/06), the Panel noticed an invitation for GPs to claim a free stethoscope as part of a Tramacet e-detail aid.
The Panel queried whether the stethoscope met the supplementary information requirements for promotional aids: cost to the company no more than £6 (ex VAT) and similar perceived value to the recipient.
The matter was taken up by the Authority as a complaint under Paragraph 17 (Director) and Janssen-Cilag was asked to respond in relation to Clause 18.1.
Janssen-Cilag stated the stethoscope was relevant to GPs’ work and inexpensive (reported cost to the company: £2.16; Panel noted £2.20, ex VAT, including artwork).
Janssen-Cilag argued perceived value was also low because the image suggested it was not high quality, and inexpensive stethoscopes were readily available online.

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