Invited by Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), China Pharmaceutical Innovation and Research Development Association (PhIRDA) representatives attended the 2018 APEC Business Ethics for SMEs Forum in Tokyo, Japan on July 18-20, 2018.

About 230 representatives from pharmaceutical administrations, industry associations and senior managers from pharmaceutical enterprises of China, America, Japan, Australia, Canada, Korea, Singapore, Chile, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Philippine, Thailand, Vietnam and other economies participated in the forum. This year’s forum focused on the topics on how to facilitate the implementation and innovation process of ethics code, how to optimize the pharmaceutical ecosystem and how to strengthen awareness of HCPs, patient organizations, pharmaceutical enterprises.

The sessions for HCPs and patient organizations was separately held in the morning and afternoon on July 18. Two sessions aimed to facilitate the practical cooperation under the guidance of Mexico City Principles and Nanjing Declaration and draw the future plan for the APEC ethic codes.

Plenary Meeting on July 18

On July 19, Biopharmaceutical Sector Multi-stakeholder Training Workshop was held, the participants reviewed the 2018 Report on Code of Ethics Implementation and analyzed the current status and future plan for Nanjing Declaration.

According to the Business Ethics for APEC SMEs Initiative monitors code of ethics development and implementation by 71 biopharmaceutical sector industry associations across the APEC region. These associations collectively represent nearly 10,000 members, of which over 6,000 are identified as SMEs. These enterprises constitute a significant majority of the firms that develop, manufacture, market, or distribute pharmaceutical and/or biological products in the region. Among the associations responding to the 2018 survey (31 of the 55 associations with codes or code commitments). Furthermore, 100% of these associations report that a majority of their members have implemented the association’s code into daily practices. In examining all 55 associations with codes or commitments, at least 69% report that a majority of their members have implemented the code. 97% of associations reported their interest in a virtual ethics compliance training and certification program and 90% have interest to support dissemination. To support this demand, the Business Ethics for APEC SMEs Initiative will initiate a “Virtual Ethics for SMEs Compliance Program” for the biopharmaceutical sector. Testing on this program will begin in 2018.

Roundtable Discussion on July 19

On July 20, representatives from Japan Patients Association, Japan Federation of Cancer Patient Groups, Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare (MHLW) of the government or Japan and Japan Medical Association & World Medical Association signed the Japan Consensus Framework for APEC Code of Ethics. Meanwhile Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health of Australia, representatives from Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association (AHHA), Australian Orthopedic Association, Medicines Australia and so on signed Australia Consensus Framework for APEC Code of Ethics. The Australia Consensus Framework was awarded the 2018 APEC Business Ethics for SMEs Lighthouse Award, which was designed by the United States Government for those individuals or organizations who had made great contribution to the development of Asia-Pacific Economy Cooperation region’s business ethics.

Plenary Meeting on July 20

Thomas Cueni, the Director-General of International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) introduced the Consensus Framework Implementation Strategies and had a discussion with the participants on the draft modification of APEC Guide to Implement Multi-Stakeholder Ethical Collaborations. As the Japan and Australia had successfully signed the Consensus Framework, other countries has started the drafting work of the framework and tried their best to cooperate with each other to facilitate the ethical process under the guidance of APEC Consensus Framework.

The success of 2018 APEC Business Ethics for SMEs Forum pointed a new way of development for ethics in Asia-Pacific region, strengthened the awareness of the Mexico City Principles and Nanjing Declarations. Lu Xiaoti, Director of International Affairs of PhIRDA and Li Gen, Project Assistant of International Affairs of PhIRDA attended the forum.

Participants of 2018 APEC Business Ethics for SMEs Forum