
To help combat the unfavorable view the public has about pharmaceutical companies, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) recently published updates to their "Code on Interactions with Health-care Professionals," which went into effect Jan. 1. PhRMA's basis for the updates is that "interactions should be focused on informing health-care professionals about products, providing scientific and educational information, and supporting medical education." Changes have been made in three major categories: gifting, consulting, and enforcement of the code.