SLCPI workshop on ethics in pharmaceutical marketing

Tuesday, 15 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Chamber of Pharmaceutical Industry (SLCPI), the premier business chamber for the pharmaceutical industry of Sri Lanka, will present an important workshop on the ethics and good practices in pharmaceutical marketing, given the global trend to achieve business results at any cost.

Some of the best names in the industry will be featured by the SLCPIS with respected Indian industry icon Virender Lamba, Director Compliance (Nepal and Sri Lanka) of Sanofi India delivering the keynote address and from Sri Lanka award winning brand and national marketer Rohantha Athukorala – Head of National Portfolio Development (Sri Lanka and Maldives) for United Nations (UNOPS) sharing the key developments in Sri Lanka for 2013 and the ethical guidelines for the pharmaceutical industry. Industry veteran and former SLCPI President Mahanama Dodampegama will share his insights on doing business in the pharmaceutical industry. From the Government of Sri Lanka, Director Health Services Dr. Palitha Maheepala with key officials of the Health Ministry will also be at the program so that a stronger working relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the regulatory authorities can be stimulated in the aim of helping the people of Sri Lanka.

The one day program will be staged at the Taj Samudra Hotel on the evening of 18 January.

“Given the apt nature of the topic the demand from the industry is very encouraging,” said SLCPI Spokesman Pradeep Edward. The audience as at now cuts across and pharmaceutical marketing professionals, traders, stakeholders and even doctors in the medical profession, he said.

Edward said that the workshop demonstrated the SLCPI’s commitment towards inculcating ethical pharmaceutical marketing practices in Sri Lanka so that the people benefit.

This program was designed post the SLCPI release in May 2012 of the updated Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices for Sri Lanka, which was well accepted by the industry.

“We firmly believe that providing healthcare needs to ensure the betterment of patients is the fundamental focus of pharmaceutical industry,” commented Edward. “The workshop crystallises the fact that we are on a mission to ensure the wellbeing of the health sector in Sri Lanka. We will continue with our mission in the future as well.”

SLCPI has set an objective to create awareness in the society that its members always adhere to best practices when it comes to pharmaceutical marketing. “This is an industry which has a very high criticality in the media and minds of the people. It directly affects the country and its people hence the program is very relevant to our daily working lives.” He went on state that interactions of pharmaceutical companies with stakeholders of the industry must be ethical and professional.

SLCPI, as a collective professionals of key industry players, is striving to set new benchmarks in the pharmaceutical sector so that Sri Lanka can take the high ground in South Asia was the view of SLCPI.