AUTH/2523/7/12: Anonymous v Teva — country club venue for VAT meeting (no breach) | PMCPA Case

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/2523/7/12
Parties	Anonymous complainant v Teva
Issue	Appropriateness of a golf and country club venue for a VAT management meeting sponsored by Teva
Meeting type	One-day VAT management course for general practice (financial management training workshop)
Attendees	18 delegates (including practice managers, dispensing managers, finance administrators and one GP)
Venue features	Country club hotel with a 9-hole golf course and a gym (golf course not mentioned on invitations)
Company involvement	Corporate sponsorship package; banner stand; account manager attendance; organiser ran event
Applicable Code year	2012
Clauses considered	19.1 (and Panel concern noted regarding 19.3)
Decision	No breach
Complaint received	06 July 2012
Case completed	01 August 2012
Appeal	No appeal

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

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An anonymous, non-contactable complainant alleged a GP service provider ran a “VAT management in practice” meeting at a golf and country club with a “well maintained 9-hole golf course”.
The meeting was sponsored by, among others, Teva UK via an annual corporate sponsorship package with the service provider.
The complainant alleged the venue breached the Code requirements for meetings (appropriateness; avoiding lavish/extravagant venues; avoiding venues renowned for entertainment; no entertainment sponsorship).
Teva said the venue was a small 3* hotel/conference venue, not renowned for entertainment; the golf course was incidental and not mentioned on invitations.
Teva stated delegates had no access to the golf course (supported by a letter from the service provider).
The Panel considered whether the meeting fell within the Code given Teva’s limited involvement (banner stand and account manager attendance) and third-party organisation.

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No breach of the Code was ruled in relation to Clause 19.1.
The Panel held the meeting was within the scope of the Code because Teva’s funding supported educational events and sponsors must ensure events they fund meet Clause 19.1.
The Panel noted it would have been preferable to choose a venue without an attached golf course, but the complainant did not prove (on the balance of probabilities) that the venue was inappropriate.
The Panel expressed concern that the invitation did not include a sufficiently prominent declaration of sponsorship as required by Clause 19.3, and asked that Teva be made aware of its views.

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