Response

I thank Dr Hughes for taking the time to provide the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) with feedback.¹ The CFPC makes no distinction in its Mainpro+ policies between generic and research-based drug manufacturers, nor does the new National Standard for Support of Accredited CPD Activities.² Access to certified continuing professional development (CPD) for rural and remote family doctors is a real challenge, in particular because of the difficulty in securing visiting speakers and in arranging practice coverage to allow doctors to attend out-of-town CPD events. The increasing access to certified online learning in the form of videoconferences, webinars, and modules helps address this challenge. Please note that sponsorship of CPD events by the pharmaceutical industry is permitted by the new national standard, although it does strengthen the expectation that the CPD organizers, usually physician-led organizations, are fully independent and in the driver’s seat for the event. It is true to say that recent rule changes no longer permit health care and pharmaceutical industry companies to act independently as organizers and providers of CPD events, which was a CPD staple in years past for many doctors. Today, such events are viewed as being at high risk of commercial bias and are viewed by the CFPC as marketing rather than education.

As for the journal, all pharmaceutical advertisements that appear in Canadian Family Physician must be approved by the Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board (PAAB) before they are accepted; PAAB is an independent, not-for-profit organization that works to ensure health care product advertising meets the regulatory, scientific, therapeutic, and ethical standards outlined in PAAB’s Code of Advertising Acceptance.

Finally, the CFPC does not view Big Pharma as “bad.” All Canadians, including CFPC members, staff, and their families, benefit from advances in pharmacotherapy that this industry has made possible in its research, manufacturing, and distribution role. But the role of such companies in physician education can be more problematic. The current consensus across Canadian medical organizations, including the CFPC, is that their role is best expressed as valued sponsors of certified learning, operating at arm’s length from and with great respect for the independence of physician organizations and other approved CPD providers who create education programs for physicians.

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