It’s just what the doctor ordered. The Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has partnered with the Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) and Rx&D to produce a practical reference guide for planners of medical conferences and educational events in Canada. (Yes, that’s a lot of acronyms.)

Got Code? Got Answers…an insider’s guide to pharmaceutical support gives an overview of the Rx&D Code of Ethical Practices as well as addressing many of the frequently asked questions that hosting such meetings bring up.

Rx&D is the association of leading research-based pharma companies that put a premium on improving Canadians’ health through the discovery and development of new medicines and vaccines. The association ploughs more than $1 billion each year into research and development to grease the wheels of Canada’s knowledge-based economy. Its membership, drawn from more than 50 companies, is 15,000 strong.

Over the past two decades, confusion has surrounded what is acceptable practice for marketing pharmaceutical products to healthcare pros and for planners hosting these events. Got Code? Got Answers, produced by CTC’s MC&IT (meetings, conventions and incentive travel) team,is full of common-sense answers.

Some of the prescriptions include: specific standards that govern international affiliate exhibitors; whether attendee tote bags can be used; and if stakeholders can attend social functions.

“Canada is now on a level playing field with the US to attract pharmaceutical companies to host their events in our country,” says Michele Saran, CTC executive director MC&IT. “This new reference guide should make planning, and the events themselves, much more straightforward.”

Read Got Code? Got Answers…an insider’s guide to pharmaceutical support in full.