160 - What is PAAB?

[Jennifer Carroll]

Incorporated in 1976, the Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board (PAAB) is a not-for profit, self-financing organization funded entirely by the fees paid by advertisers for preclearance review (not for the acceptance). The highly trained PAAB staff runs the preclearance program to ensure that proposed advertising meets Code standards for the promotion of pharmaceutical products. The PAAB code can be found at the following URL: http://www.paab.ca/en/paab_code/code/ The code was created (and is maintained on an ongoing basis) by the PAAB Board of Directors. The following organizations are members of the PAAB and have appointed official representatives to its Board: *Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada *Association of Medical Advertising Agencies *Best Medicines Coalition *BIOTECanada *Canada's Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies (Innovative Medicines Canada) *Canadian Association of Medical Publishers *Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association *Canadian Medical Association *Canadian Pharmacists Association *Canada's Association for the Fifty-Plus (CARP) *Consumers Council Of Canada *Federation des mÃdecins spÃcialistes du Quebec *NDMAC The PAAB mission is to provide a preclearance review that fosters trustworthy healthcare communications within the regulatory framework. The PAAB's primary role is to ensure that healthcare product communication for prescription, non-prescription, biological and natural health products is accurate, balanced and evidence-based, and reflects current and best practice. The PAAB also monitors trends in health product advertising and promotion and adjusts its code and practices as required to fulfill its mandate. The scope of the PAAB includes promotional healthcare product communication for prescription, non-prescription, biological and natural health products to health care professionals in all media. PAAB also provides advisory comments on direct-to-consumer materials for prescription drugs. PAAB's Scope evolves with the regulatory framework. Please visit our website at www.paab.ca for more information and don't hesitate to call us at (905) 509-2275 if you have any questions. Also find us on LinkedIn, join the PAAB group and participate in the discussion!