Eucomed launches European medtech conference vetting system28 March 2012 Brussels. The independent Compliance Panel of Eucomed, the European medical technology industry association, has launched an online conference vetting system to review and approve third-party educational conferences in accordance with the Eucomed Code of Ethical Business Practice. The system is accepting conference vetting submissions from the Eucomed membership (corporate members, national industry associations, associate members) and conference organisers. Visitors will find details on the criteria which will be used to assess conferences as well as the role of the Compliance Officer who manages the system and reports to the independent Compliance Panel. The platform’s calendar tool provides users with an overview of upcoming conferences along with the results of the assessments. The sponsorship by industry of medical education conferences is fundamental to the relationship between healthcare professionals and the medical technology industry and is a driver of the dialogue and innovation that improve patient access to the latest technology. Under the Eucomed Code of Ethical Business Practice, Eucomed's corporate members and members of national industry associations may sponsor third-party educational conferences provided that the conferences comply with the Eucomed Code. It is critical that sponsoring is conducted in the most ethical, consistent and transparent manner. The conference vetting system will serve as a centralised decision-making mechanism, aimed at encouraging transparency and consistency in European conference compliance determinations and alleviating the complex administrative burden previously faced by Eucomed members who were forced to make their own determinations. The system assesses conferences in the geographic area covered by Eucomed’s members and associate members (currently the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Russia, Turkey and the Middle East). “We are extremely pleased to launch the pilot phase of the conference vetting system which will ultimately become the first compulsory system of its kind”, says Compliance Panel Chairman John McLoughlin. “Before we finalise the system, we are launching it in a pilot phase which is expected to last six months. We will use this time to review the system’s practical aspects in order to ensure optimal efficiency and ease of use. "At the end of the pilot, we expect to go forward with the vetting system as a permanent structure, at which time assessments will no longer be recommendations, but binding decisions applicable to all Eucomed Corporate Members and members of National Industry Associations. We may also open the system to additional interested parties and extend our geographic scope.” More information The conference vetting platform is available at: www.ethicalmedtech.eu About EthicalMedtech EthicalMedTech is a platform dedicated to ethics and compliance projects in the European MedTech industry and is supported by Eucomed, the European medical technology industry association. EthicalMedTech currently focuses on the conference vetting system established in 2012. This independent system reviews the compliance of third-party educational conferences with the Eucomed Code of Ethical Business Practice.
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