Rules on relationships in connection with participation in panel debates

Read more about the rules applying to doctors, nurses, dentists and proprietary pharmacists and prescribing pharmacistsparticipating in panel debates in which the industry is involved. The rules are among others relevant to healthcare professionals participating in panel debates at the People’s Meeting on Bornholm. 

If you are a healthcare professional and participate in a public panel debate arranged by a pharmaceutical or medical device company, or if you receive payments from a company for your participation in a debate, you must notify the Danish Medicines Agency of any relationship before you participate in the debate.

Doctors and dentists undertaking clinical duties in Denmark as well as proprietary pharmacists are covered by the notification duty if they have relationships with pharmaceutical and medical device companies. Nurses undertaking clinical duties in Denmark are only covered by the notification duty if they have relationships with medical device companies. Prescribing pharmacists are covered by the notification duty if they have relationships with pharmaceutical companies.

Prescribing pharmacists are covered by the notification duty if they have relationships with pharmaceutical companies.

Panel debates open to the public

Participation in panel debates open to the public and arranged by pharmaceutical and medical device companies about general health issues only requires prior notification to the Danish Medicines Agency. This also applies if the company co-organising a panel debate – for example with the media, a patient association or other organisation or if the company has asked an agency or consultancy firm to arrange the panel debate. 

You also have to notify the Danish Medicines Agency of any relationship if the panel debate is arranged by the media, a patient association or other organisation or via an agency/consultancy firm and the event is supported financially by a pharmaceutical or medical device company, and you as a healthcare professional receive payments from this company.

You can use this form (in Danish) to notify us about a relationship. Select the relationship type ”Foredrag” (presentation) in the form.

Previously, participation in a panel debate open to the public required prior permission from the Danish Medicines Agency. As from 1 January 2017, this was changed so that you only need to notify the Danish Medicines Agency prior to participation in a panel debate.

Participation in other panel debates requires prior permission

Participation in other types of panel debates than those mentioned above may require prior permission from the Danish Medicines Agency, for example, debates that are not open to the public.

You can use the above form to apply for our permission to establish a relationship. Select the relationship type ”Øvrigt” (other) in the form and describe your relationship.

Do you need to take any further action?

If you participate in a debate that a pharmaceutical or medical device company supports financially (but does not organise or co-organise), you do not have to notify us about your relationship with the company, unless you receive payments for your participation and the payments are covered by the support given by the company.

The company must inform you of your obligations

When pharmaceutical and medical device companies establish relationships with a doctor, nurse (only medical device companies), dentist, proprietary pharmacist or prescribing pharmacists (only pharmaceutical companies), they must inform the healthcare professionals of their obligations towards the Danish Medicines Agency. The company must inform them of the notification duty and the obligation to apply for permission. They must also inform them that the Danish Medicines Agency publishes information about relationships on a list on its website.

You can see companies covered by the rules in our lists of companies having a relationship with healthcare professionals . If the company appears from one or more of the three lists, the company must inform you of the rules.