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ABPI - The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry
 

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
 
About the ABPI


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


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 ABPI Institute provides support for the training of medical representatives in the pharmaceutical industry.

The Office of Heath Economics carries out independent research into the economic aspects of healthcare, collects data and publishes the results. It maintains HEED, a comprehensive and regularly updated database of articles on health economics.

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.

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Membership Categories


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


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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