Anonymous v Menarini: Sponsorship of BJMA ‘scientific meeting’ found mainly social (AUTH/2629/8/13)

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Key facts

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Case number	AUTH/2629/8/13
Parties	Anonymous v Menarini
Issue	Meeting sponsorship
Meeting	34th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Bihar Jharkhand Medical Association (BJMA), UK
Location / date	Bolton hotel, July 2013
Applicable Code year	2012
Complaint received	7 August 2013
Case completed	25 October 2013
Menarini support described	£1,500 for exhibition stand plus two sessions; chose subject areas and speakers; briefed speakers
Panel view of event	Main purpose social/cultural; limited scientific content (around three hours across two days, allowing for parallel sessions)
Breach clauses	2, 9.1, 19.1
No breach clauses	22.1, 22.2
Sanctions	Undertaking received; Advertisement
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 the Bihar Jharkhand Medical Association (BJMA), UK annual meeting (Bolton hotel, July 2013) was more of a weekend family/social gathering than an educational meeting, with children’s activities and entertainment (eg children’s football, “BJMA’s Got Talent”).
The complainant was also concerned that pharmaceutical companies should not have sponsored such an event and should not have had stands promoting products in front of the public.
Menarini’s involvement: payment of £1,500 for an exhibition stand plus two sessions on the scientific programme; Menarini chose subject areas and speakers (organisers agreed they were suitable) and briefed the speakers.
Menarini said it was unaware, prior to the meeting, of partner/family activities running alongside the scientific meeting and believed the scientific meeting was segregated and accessible only to health professionals via registration/badges.
The Panel reviewed multiple versions of agendas and supporting documents and concluded the overall impression was that the meeting’s main purpose was social/cultural, with limited scientific content (around three hours across two days, allowing for parallel sessions), and additional non-clinical/financial talks.
The Panel was concerned that company briefing of speakers was at odds with the programme declaration that pharmaceutical companies had not influenced slide content.
The Panel considered companies had limited information before agreeing support and should have ensured comprehensive documentation was supplied by organisers.

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Outcome

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Breach of Clause 19.1 (meeting not primarily educational / arrangements did not meet Code requirements).
Breach of Clause 9.1 (high standards not maintained).
Breach of Clause 2 (circumstances brought discredit upon and reduced confidence in the pharmaceutical industry; Clause 2 used as a sign of particular censure).
No breach of Clauses 22.1 and 22.2 (alleged promotion to the public not proven on the balance of probabilities).
No appeal (for AUTH/2629/8/13).

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Key facts

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