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February 3, 2012 - MEB signs new code to prevent being influenced by a conflict of interests

The Medicines Evaluation Board (MEB) has signed a Code together with more than thirty organisations in order to prevent a possible conflict of interests. For example, the interests of experts who form part of scientific and advice committees are disclosed via the code in order to prevent a conflict of interests and thereby improper influences.

Bert Leufkens – chairman of the MEB and also professor at the University of Utrecht – applauds this initiative. “Board members of the MEB are often also scientists or investigators at an institute or hospital that collaborates with industry partners. They are grounded in the practical situation and as a result are very valuable for their work for the MEB. Transparency about these various interests and clear rules as set out in this code and the MEB integrity policy are absolutely essential.”

The Code was presented to Minister Schippers of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) on Tuesday 31 January and she will present it to the House of Representatives in the near future.

The Code for the prevention of improper influence due to a conflict of interests was drafted on the initiative of the Royal Netherlands Academy for the promotion of Medicine (KNMG), the Royal Netherlands Academy of Sciences (KNAW), the Health Council, the Central Policy Organ (CBO), the Netherlands Association of General Practitioners (NHG) and the Order of Medical Specialists (OMS).

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