On this special occasion, Deputy Prime Minister, Admiral Narong Pipatanasai, attended as the keynote speaker and shared how good governance is one of his key priorities, and that a prime example of good governance is the PReMA code of ethics by which all private sectors monitor and control themselves in their business practices.
During a panel discussion, the Chairman of Rational Drug Use Subcommittee, Prof. Dr. Prasit Watanapa, who is also Dean of the Siriraj Faculty of Medicine, noted that the medical schools network is also considering whether companies that have successfully implemented a credible code of conduct may be recognized by some mechanism within the medical schools. Such a concept is still far from being officially proposed, and the initial discussions are ongoing.
Also speaking at the event, Professor Dr. Pakdee Pothisiri, now an advisor to the National Anti-Corruption Commission, highlighted the recently announced guidelines from the Anti-Corruption Act and encouraged the private sector to implement internal standard operation procedures as a risk management tool.
"PReMA updates its code of conduct at least every two years based on international standards, local developments and business trends, so our Code of Conduct is ready to address current and appropriate marketing techniques to ensure that medicines are used correctly for maximum patient benefit." Pharmacist Busakorn Lerswatanasivalee, PReMA Chief Executive Officer, as the organizer of the event, said, "We believe that other industries and groups would benefit from having a code that is self-regulated to ensure that its interactions with others are conducted in a professional and ethical manner"
PReMA's Code of Conduct, now in its 10th edition, governs matters such as interactions between its member companies and healthcare professionals so that there can be improved patient care and that exchanges between companies and healthcare professionals is fundamentally based on truthful, accurate, and scientific evidence.