A ban on agreements with pharmaceutical workers, restrictions on interaction with doctors, and strict requirements for organizing professional events. In the new issue of the Tax Podcast, experts Alexey Stanchin, Head of Tax Compliance Practice, and invited guest Robert Vadiyan, Compliance manager at an international pharmaceutical company, analyzed the main compliance traps for the pharmaceutical business. 

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most regulated in the world. In addition to general anti-corruption legislation, companies are required to comply with industry restrictions: special rules for interaction with medical and pharmaceutical workers, requirements for working with pharmacy chains, and strict standards for professional events. 

In this issue, experts: 

• Explain how the Watergate Scandal (FCPA) and the collapse of Enron influenced the emergence of the profession of compliance officer and what functions such specialists perform today.
• They analyze the specifics of pharmaceutical compliance: restrictions on payments to medical workers, a ban on agreements with pharmaceutical workers in accordance with Federal Law No. 61, and nuances of interaction with pharmacy chains.
• They talk about the requirements for organizing professional events: why not only explicit prohibitions (gifts, entertainment programs) are important, but also the compliance of the venue and format of the event with ethical standards.
• They explain how Russian and foreign anti-corruption norms apply to the actions of counterparties and why partners need to be checked before signing the contract.
• They provide practical recommendations on due diligence: which open sources to use (the Unified State Register of Legal Entities, accounting statements), what to pay attention to and how to minimize risks.

The main Expert Council

Compliance in pharma is not about "how to avoid a fine", but about ethics and reputation. Check your partners, keep an eye on subcontractors, and remember: even an indirect influence on the choice of a doctor or pharmacist can have very serious consequences. 

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