22 - A pharma company has commissioned a third-party to create a patient support package. This package is given free to the patient from the doctor when they begin treatment. The package contains product monograph and consumer products to help with the drug's side-effect management. Can the package also contain products that do not deal with the side effect management, but relate to the product's target age group ie: a purse or wallet, a backpack, free music downloads etc? And is there a limit on the value allowed for the patient support package?
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PAAB Code s6 appies to patient information. PAAB Code s2.8 states "Promotional items offered in advertisements must be related directly to the product or its use(s), or be of practical value to the health professional. Such gifts must withstand professional and public scrutiny. Items intended for distribution to patients via a health professional must be useful as aids to patients' understanding of, or adaptation to, their condition(s) or for encouraging compliance with recommended therapy." Therefore, this question is not relevant to s2.8 because the giveaways are not being offered in an ad. The Innovative Medicinces Canada Code of Conduct applies to service-oriented items such as the purse etc in this example and to "special promotions". If the "consumer products" were nonprescription drugs, federal sample laws would apply.
