Ferring: ISU urology meeting in Belfast—5-star venue, golf and gala dinner created an unacceptable impression (AUTH/2552/11/12)

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Key facts

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Case	AUTH/2552/11/12
Complainant	Anonymous group of NHS health professionals (non-contactable)
Company	Ferring (UK held responsible for Irish affiliate activity)
Meeting	Irish Society of Urology (ISU) annual meeting
Location	Culloden Estate and Spa, Holywood, Belfast (Northern Ireland, UK)
Date of meeting	September 2012
Complaint theme	Excessive hospitality / inappropriate meeting arrangements (luxury venue, golf, gala dinner)
Scientific content	1.5 days; programme stated “9 CPD credits”
Key Ferring fact	One employee attended the gala dinner; ticket purchase deemed inappropriate
Applicable Code year	2012
Clauses considered	Clauses 2, 9.1 and 19.1
Breach findings	Breach Clauses 9.1 and 19.1; No breach Clause 2
Sanctions	Undertaking received; Additional sanctions not stated
Complaint received	4 December 2012
Case completed	14 February 2013
Appeal	No appeal

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

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An anonymous, non-contactable group of NHS health professionals complained about pharmaceutical company support for the Irish Society of Urology (ISU) annual meeting held in Belfast (Northern Ireland) in September 2012.
The meeting programme highlighted a very luxurious 5-star venue (Culloden Estate and Spa) with photos and local attractions, and included messaging that “the social aspect of this meeting is extremely important”.
The programme showed the scientific meeting ran for 1.5 days (9 CPD credits), but also listed post-meeting golf and a gala dinner at Stormont/Parliament Buildings.
The back page of the programme thanked multiple companies for their support, without clearly stating what each company had (and had not) supported—creating the impression that all listed companies supported the whole programme, including golf and the gala dinner.
Ferring’s involvement was via its Irish affiliate paying to exhibit; Ferring stated it did not sponsor HCP attendance (no accommodation, subsistence or registration fees).
However, Ferring Ireland purchased a ticket for the gala dinner and one employee attended the gala dinner.
The Panel noted the ABPI Code applied because the meeting was held in Northern Ireland, and UK companies are responsible for overseas affiliates’ activities when carried out in the UK and/or relating to UK health professionals.

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