Anonymous v Janssen-Cilag (AUTH/1897/10/06): Dubai meeting hospitality complaint – no breach | PMCPA Case

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/1897/10/06
Parties	Anonymous v Janssen-Cilag Ltd
Issue	Alleged inappropriate hospitality / support for attendance at South Asian Forum meeting in Dubai
Applicable Code year	2006
Clauses considered	2, 9.1 and 19.1
Meeting	South Asian Forum meeting, Dubai, 2–6 December 2006 (pre-conference symposium plus 3½ days programme)
Company support	14 educational grants; £1,500 each (£21,000 total) covering economy flights, registration, hotel and subsistence; travel aligned to meeting dates
Panel decision	No breach
Complaint received	9 October 2006
Case completed	28 November 2006
Appeal	No appeal

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

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An anonymous complainant alleged that some psychiatrists and pharmaceutical companies had an inappropriate relationship, with companies funding travel/hotels/food for meetings of the South Asian Forum (UK and abroad).
The complainant highlighted a South Asian Forum meeting in Dubai (2–6 December 2006), alleging it was more of a cultural “get together” with motivating factors such as free hotel/holiday feel, cultural programmes and food.
PMCPA asked Janssen-Cilag to respond under Clauses 2, 9.1 and 19.1 (Code year 2006).
Janssen-Cilag stated it did not sponsor the meeting itself, but provided educational grants for individual doctors to attend after assessment by the medical department.
Janssen-Cilag funded 14 grants of £1,500 each (£21,000 total) covering economy flights, registration, hotel and subsistence, limited to the conference dates; it provided letters setting terms for named doctors and obtained confirmation/reconciliation commitments from the South Asian Forum.

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The Panel considered the Dubai event to be an educational/scientific meeting (including a pre-conference symposium and a further 3½ days of educational programme).
The meeting’s association with the World Psychiatric Association and the international speaker faculty supported its scientific credibility.
The Panel found the arrangements (travel timed to meeting start/end; payment of accommodation, day delegate rate and registration) were not unreasonable.
No breach of the Code was ruled.

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