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Membership Benefits
The ABPI's mission's to represent the
pharmaceutical industry operating in the United Kingdom in a way
that:
- Assures patients access to the best
available medicine
- Creates a favourable political and
economic environment
- Encourges innovative research and
development
- Affords fair commercial returns
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| About the ABPI |
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Achieved - ABPI ensured implementation-
of 60 recommendations
arising from the Pharmaceutical Industry Competiitiveness Task
Force
The Association of the British Pharmaceutical
Industry is the trade association that
represents leading prescription medicine
companies involved in every stage of
research, development and manufacture
of both branded and generic products
in the UK. The fact that ABPI members
supply more than 80 per cent of the medicines
prescribed through the National Health
Service is a measure of its pivotal standing
in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Association provides a wide range
of services and support for its members.
Located in Whitehall in central London,
it is ideally placed to represent the
views of the pharmaceutical industry
to Government, politicians, the media,
the scientific and medical world and
the general public.
It also has offices in Scotland and Wales. As the leading trade
association in its sector, its opinions carry real weight, ensuring
a fast track into negotiations between the industry, UK Government,
European Union and other authorities.
The Association maintains close and regular contact with political
opinion leaders, Government bodies and agencies at national level
and is a leading player in European industry affairs. The Association
maintains extensive contact with the UK Research Councils, training
and education institutions, NHS health managers, patient advocacy
groups and professional bodies such as the Royal Colleges.
The pharmaceutical industry is an integral
element in the successful development
of patient-centred care through the implementation
of Government plans for the evolution
of the NHS. The ABPI has kept pace with
developments and is a vigorous and effective
force for creating
a favourable political and economic environment
for its members. It encourages innovative
pharmaceutical research and development
and campaigns to give all patients access
to the best medicines available.
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| The voice of the industry |
Achieved - Introduced the Model Clinical Trial Agreement ,
a template between a pharmaceutical company and NHS hospital trusts,
designed to enable faster start-up times for clinical trials working
committees to address key areas.
Participation by members in all aspects
of its activities is an important feature
of the Association. That involvement
starts at the top, with the ABPI's Board
of Management, which consists of senior
executives from a broad spectrum of member
companies. This ensures that the Association's
strategies are moulded by its members,
so the focus is always on what matters
to those working at the sharp end of
the industry.
Three major Board task forces
have been established in order to shape
and implement policy: the Access Strategy
Group, the Economic Strategy Group,
and the NHS Task Force, reporting directly
to the Board.
To ensure that all issues of importance to the industry are covered
in depth in a similarly participative way, eight ABPI working committees
address key areas of importance for the industry.
- Commercial
- Intellectual Property
- Legal
- Medical
- Smaller Companies
- Manufacturing
- Research and Development
- Worldwide Regulatory
These teams, made up of member company
executives and ABPI specialists, are
the powerhouse of the Association. They
are an opportunity for companies to
share information, exchange views and
develop common objectives and policies
for the industry. These committees determine
the way forward for the ABPI and therefore
guide all its activities.
For longer-term issues, permanent advisory
groups have been
established. These focus on areas such
as animal research and welfare, UK
regulatory affairs, drug safety, pharmaceutical
quality, business information, representative
training, education and schools, pharmacovigilance,
academic liaison, illegal/fraudulent
trading, and environmental health
and safety.
Structuring the ABPI's activities in this way ensures maximum flexibility
to respond quickly to all important industry-wide issues. Critical
topics can be quickly scheduled and effective policy for the industry
determined by a consensus of the Association's member companies.
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| Working for the industry |
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Achieved - the introduction in the 2003 budget of R&D tax credits-
for pharmaceutical companies, allowing further investment in the
UK
Achieved - significant improvement in
the NICE product appraisal process,-
including representation by the pharmaceutical industry on
expert appraisal committees
The
ABPI's permanent staff of 60 provide
a centre of expertise to support the
committees, task forces and advisory
groups in preparing, formulating and
implementing their decisions. The Commercial Affairs division promotes the interests of
the industry and helps to develop commercial policy with Government
and government bodies. It shapes industry involvement on issues
such as NICE, National Service Frameworks, and relations with the
NHS.
The Medical division co-ordinates
the industry's relations with all the
bodies
representing the medical professions,
including the British Medical Association
and the Royal Colleges. It monitors and
gives guidance on good clinical research
practice.
The Science and Technology division's
aim is to ensure that the UK remains
an attractive location for the industry's
existing and future investments in R&D
and manufacturing. Its role is to focus
on discovery and experimental clinical
research as well as manufacturing investment,
quality and health & safety
issues. It collaborates closely with
key external opinion leaders in Government
and the academic world to help sustain
the UK's vital research base, works
toward an appropriate regulatory environment
and provides technical advice and guidance.
It works with member companies in developing
closer links with the education world
to attract the brightest and best students
into careers in the
pharmaceutical industry.
The Public Affairs division
promotes the image, views and interests
of the industry to Parliamentarians,
opinion leaders, patient groups and
the media. It organises a co-ordinated
programme of events, meetings and publications
aimed at a broad range of audiences.
The Legal, Intellectual Property and Regulatory division
works closely with Government agencies and other bodies to influence
and develop legislation relevant to the pharmaceutical industry,
both in the national and international arenas.
ABPI Scotland and ABPI Cymru Wales represent the ABPI's
recognition of and commitment to devolution. Their aim is to foster
the growth and strategic long-term success of the pharmaceutical
industry in Scotland and Wales.
The Office of Heath Economics carries out independent research
into the economic aspects of healthcare, collects data and publishes
the results.
The Animals in Medicines Research Information Centre provides
information to the public about the essential role of animals in
the discovery, development and safety testing of medicines and vaccines.
Datapharm Communications Ltd is responsible for developing
the electronic Medicines Compendium (eMC), which provides health
care professionals and the public with information about prescription
medicines available in the UK. The eMC is available on the Internet,
www.emc.vhn.net, as a CD-ROM and in book form as the Medicines Compendium.
The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA)
oversees the industry's guidelines on how prescription medicines
are promoted to health professionals in the UK. The Code covers
the quality of information which is made available to the general
public. It is run independently and works in consultation with the
British Medical Association, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of
Great Britain and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory
Agency. Members must abide by the Code of Practice as a condition
of their membership.
Links section.
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| Membership Categories |
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Achieved-the Pharmaceutical Industry is now in the top three
industry sectors rated by MPs -its highest ever ranking - thereby
creating an enhanced political environment for companies
There are three categories of membership, representing the
range of companies with an interest in the pharmaceutical industry
in the UK. FULL MEMBER
Full membership is for pharmaceutical companies providing prescription
medicines to the NHS in the UK. Companies engaged in research and
development in the UK with a view to marketing medicines for human
use or licensing them to others are also eligible for membership.
RESEARCH AFFILIATE
Research Affiliates are companies engaged in the research and/or
development of medicines for human use. Many of these are Contract
Research or Contract Development Organisations.
GENERAL AFFILIATE
General Affiliate membership is for all other organisations with
an interest in the industry. Most are suppliers of products and
services to the industry.
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| Benefits of Membership |
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Achieved - lobbied successfully for the introduction of amendments
to the Anti-social Behaviour Bill, to improve the protection of
employees of pharmaceutical companies from animal extremists
A major benefit
comes from being able to shape industry
views and policy on emerging issues and
playing a part in the strength and success
of the ABPI in its representation of
the industry. Driving the future of the industry
Full Members can participate in committees, task forces and
advisory groups as appropriate and so have a real influence on the
future policy and direction of the industry. Preparing position
papers and industry guidelines is a core function of the Association
and members have early access to the decision-making process from
the development stage onwards.
Research Affiliates are represented on a selection of committees
and groups of particular relevance to them - for example, Medical
Committee, Experimental Medicine Group and Clinical Trials Group,
and so can influence policy in the areas most relevant to their
business interests.
General Affiliates may be asked
to join an advisory group where their
particular area of expertise is relevant.
Information and advice
The ABPI is a unique resource of experience
and expertise relating to the pharmaceutical
industry. Member companies can draw
on this in a number of areas. Examples
include:
- specialist advice from ABPI staff
- information and data on the ABPI members' Extranet
- access to ABPI databases
- press cuttings and broadcast
- monitoring services
- support with media and
- parliamentary activities
- ABPI training courses
Achieved - the ABPI has successfully managed
the crucial negotiations with government on the Pharmaceutical Price
Regulation Scheme - for many years and has conducted a consultation
exercise with members as a prelude to the 2005 PPRS negotiations
Events
The ABPI organises a comprehensive schedule of events throughout
the year, some for the whole membership, others for selected groups
of specialists. ABPI events are designed to inform, to encourage
debate on topical issues, to gather the views of the membership
and to provide a unique opportunity to network and build relationships
with colleagues and stakeholders across the industry.
- Specialist conferences e.g. Medical
Conference, Environmental, Health
and Safety Conference,
- PR Executives Conference
- Seminars e.g. Clinical Trials, Environment Issues, Work Skills
- Members briefings e.g. PPRS, NICE
- Breakfast briefings, where General Affiliates provide up-to-the-minute
information and thinking on current issues
- Annual Dinner
- Annual Conference and Exhibition
Achieved - the ABPI Edinburgh and Cardiff
offices have established dialogue with opinion leaders in Scotland
and Wales - including securing industry partnerships on the Scottish
Medicines Consortium and the Wales NHS-Industry Forum
Publications
To ensure that the industry's messages are communicated effectively
to a broad range of audiences, the ABPI produces a comprehensive
selection of publications, usually available to members on a free
of charge basis.
- Media information
- Research and development publications
- Industry newsletters
- Briefing papers on key industry issues
- Booklets for patients and carers
- Clinical guidelines
- Industry statistics
Members can also use the ABPI meeting facilities in Whitehall at
peferential rates.
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