ABHI Launches Code of Practice Website

Date: 29 March 2012 ABHI has today launched its new Code of Business Practice website which can be accessed at www.abhicodeofpractice.org.uk. The website has been launched alongside the adoption of the new Appendix on Guidelines on Advertisements and Promotions addressed solely or primarily to Healthcare Professionals. This website represents a single portal for all information on the Code. The Code itself has been redesigned and is now available both as a complete document as well as individual chapters covering interactions with healthcare professionals, competition law, procedures for the complaints adjudication panel and also the section on advertising and promotion. Information on Ethical Business Compliance Logo Scheme, training partners and the complaints adjudication process is available on the website too. Non-member companies will soon be able to sign up to the ABHI Code thereby bringing themselves into line with those that are required to do so by virtue of their ABHI membership. This is part of an ongoing to process to broaden the Codes coverage across the industry and ABHI will be working on this over the next few months both through its member trade associations and also via the Medilink network. ABHIs Chief Executive, Peter Ellingworth, has welcomed the launch of the Code of Business Practice website saying: The launch of this website is a crucial step in the development of the ABHI Code of Business Practice. Ethical compliance is a key issue for our members and ABHI will continue to lead the industry in this area. Our intention is to make the Code available to non members and work so that the whole of industry conforms to the highest ethical standards. By doing this ABHI are helping ensure that industry continues to be held in the highest regard by policy makers and the NHS. As well as increasing our coverage across industry ABHI are also working with Royal Colleges to ensure that NHS staff are aware of, and understand the Code. Im sure the whole of industry will join me in welcoming this development which reaffirms our commitment to conducting our business in an ethical, consistent and transparent manner. -ENDSNotes to Editor: The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) is the industry association for the medical technology sector in the UK. ABHIs mission is to champion the benefits and use of safe and effective medical technologies to deliver high quality patient outcomes. With over 250 members, ABHI leads the advocacy of the industry in order to advance access to medical technology. Their membership includes some of the leading multinational businesses in the sector in the UK right the way through to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). For further information contact Nicole Roe at nicole.roe@abhi.org.uk.