AUTH/2353/8/10: Napp voluntary admission—business class flights for congress delegates and lack of certification

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/2353/8/10
Company	Napp Pharmaceuticals Limited
Case type	Voluntary admission (treated as a complaint)
Issue	Provision of business class travel to delegates; failure to certify overseas meeting arrangements
Meeting	13th World Congress on Pain, Montreal, Canada (29 August–2 September 2010)
Number of HCPs	17
Complaint received	01 September 2010
Case completed	27 October 2010
Applicable Code year	2008
Breach clauses	2, 9.1, 14.2 and 19.1
Appeal	No appeal
Sanctions	Undertaking received; Additional sanctions: Advertisement

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

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Napp Pharmaceuticals voluntarily admitted it had provided business class air travel to 17 health professionals attending the 13th World Congress on Pain in Montreal (29 Aug–2 Sep 2010) as delegates.
The congress team attempted to book premium economy (per its SOP) but none were available, so business class was booked.
Approval was sought from the legal department, but the meetings department misquoted the relevant SOP and the legal team was left with the impression the travellers were consultants (for whom business class could be permitted).
The final travel arrangements were not submitted for formal certification for an overseas meeting.
The error was identified three days before departure. Napp tried to rebook outbound flights but economy/premium economy were fully booked; indirect options were considered too disruptive.
Napp attempted to change return flights to economy indirect routes; 16 of 17 delegates said the revised returns were unacceptable due to clinical/travel commitments and returned business class as originally arranged.
Delegates were sent a letter stating the outbound arrangements did not comply with the Code and that return travel had been changed.
Napp reviewed and rewrote an SOP to clarify certification requirements for overseas meetings and arranged bespoke training for the congress team.

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The voluntary admission was treated as a complaint due to potential seriousness.
The Panel ruled breaches of Clauses 19.1, 14.2, 9.1 and 2 (Applicable Code year: 2008).
No appeal (per case record).

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