AUTH/2084/1/08: Anonymous v Novartis — hospitality at educational meeting (no breach) | PMCPA Case

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/2084/1/08
Parties	Anonymous v Novartis
Issue	Arrangements for a meeting and conduct of representatives; alleged excessive hospitality and non-HCP attendance
Complaint received	24 January 2008
Case completed	26 February 2008
Applicable Code year	2006
Venue / format	Educational meeting in a private room at a restaurant; dinner afterwards in main restaurant
Speaker/topic	Senior consultant nephrologist; “Renin Angiotensin and the Kidney: current and future therapeutic options” (hypertension; BHS/NICE context)
Attendance (company account)	42 health professionals attended; register showed 35 GPs, 2 consultants, 3 nurses (plus speaker; one nurse not on register)
Hospitality cost (company account)	£1,702.15 total; £38.69 per head; set meal £30/head; 13 bottles house wine (£141.70); 21 bottles water (£70.40); additional drinks £230.05
Panel view on hospitality	On the outer limits of acceptability; concerns about impression and lack of detail on additional drinks; but on balance not unacceptable
Clauses considered	2, 9.1, 15.2, 19.1
Ruling	No breach of Clauses 2, 9.1, 15.2 and 19.1
Appeal	No appeal

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

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What happened

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An anonymous, non-contactable complainant alleged excessive hospitality and inappropriate representative conduct at a Novartis-sponsored meeting held at a restaurant in January 2008.
Allegations included: no attendee register; many attendees not health professionals; no budget control; a ~£2,000 bill for ~30 people; take-aways for doctors (£228) and for representatives; and representatives taking home unopened wine (one allegedly for a representative’s husband’s supper).
Novartis stated the event was an educational meeting chaired by a GP with a senior consultant nephrologist speaking on “Renin Angiotensin and the Kidney: current and future therapeutic options” in hypertension (BHS/NICE context).
Novartis said a handwritten register existed and was provided, showing attendees’ status, place of employment and signatures (35 GPs, 2 consultants, 3 nurses). One attendee (a nursing colleague) was not on the register and would be followed up.
Novartis said hospitality was a set meal for 42 (shared by 44 including two reps), with wine and water on tables; attendees could not order additional dishes.
Novartis attributed some “take-away” food to poor restaurant service (main course delayed), with some attendees taking their main course when leaving; it denied additional take-aways were purchased.
Novartis said leftover meat dishes (unexpected number of vegetarians) were taken by reps to avoid waste; one part-used bottle of wine (three-quarters full) was taken to avoid waste.
Costs submitted by Novartis: total hospitality bill £1,702.15 (≈£38.69 per head), including set meal (£30/head), wine, water, additional drinks, service and private room.

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Outcome

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The Panel was concerned about the arrangements, timing discrepancies, and the impression created.
The Panel noted the additional bar bill (£230.05) despite wine and water being provided, and that it did not know what additional drinks had been ordered.
The Panel considered the hospitality—particularly the drinks bill (£442.15)—to be on the outer limits of acceptability.
On the evidence, the Panel decided the hospitality was, on balance, not unacceptable: attendees were health professionals, the main purpose was educational, and costs were on the limit of what HCPs would normally pay themselves.
No breach of the Code was ruled.

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AUTH/2084/1/08: Anonymous v Novartis — hospitality at educational meeting (no breach)

Key facts

What happened

Outcome

Clauses

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