The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations has launched a public information campaign to help drugmakers get ready to comply with new financial disclosure rules coming in to force in January.

The code was approved last summer and requires EFPIA members to disclose "specified direct payments and other transfer of values/benefits in kind" made to healthcare professionals and organisations. The campaign will highlight "best practices with how preparations are being made across Europe" and will consist of a suite of materials and "outreach activities running throughout the year aimed at a range of audiences involved with the code’s implementation". These will include online videos, leaflets and guides, as well as "stakeholder education events and webinars", plus a social media campaign.

Richard Bergstr__m, EFPIA director-general, said cooperation between healthcare professionals, organisations and the pharmaceutical industry "is important and necessary at all stages of the development and use of medicines". He added that the campaign "is aimed at ensuring stakeholders throughout that chain are aware and make the necessary preparations for change".

EFPIA president and Sanofi chief executive Viehbacher added that "transparency is both a guarantee of credibility and confidence [and] is the basic premise in developing trust-based relationships with the public and more importantly patients".