IFPMA is proud to be a key partner of the Business Ethics for APEC SMEs initiative, the largest public-private partnership of its kind in the world with participation from more than 1,250 organizations across all 21 APEC member economies all working towards achieving ethics and integrity in the service of patients and people. Chile becomes the ninth economy in the APEC region to have government, healthcare providers, patients, and industry formally committing to join together at a national level to improve ethics and integrity through adoption of a “Consensus Framework”.

As a result of our continued partnership and collaborative efforts governments, healthcare providers, patients, and industry, 56 associations in the region now have adopted and implemented high-standard industry codes of ethics, which ensure that practices in our industry are governed by ethical standards in line with societal expectations. These codes of conduct now reach almost 10,000 companies, of which over 6,000 are small and medium size enterprises (SMEs).

However, IFPMA notes that 15 associations in the region still do not have a code, preventing APEC from reaching its goal of universal code adoption. Economy-specific surveys, such as the first-ever survey conducted in China, also point to opportunities – for example to increase understanding of business ethics concepts and support adoption of ethical guidelines.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a regional economic forum whose members aim to create greater prosperity for the people of the region by accelerating regional economic integration. IFPMA Director-General Thomas Cueni serves as the initiative’s Industry Co-Chair of the APEC Biopharmaceutical Working Group on Ethics and participated in the 2019 APEC Business Ethics for SMEs Forum held on 9- 10 September 2019 in Santiago, Chile.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Cueni said that ‘The innovative biopharmaceutical industry is unlike any other – our products can prolong and save lives. We therefore hold ourselves to higher ethical standards than other industries. We owe it to the patients who rely on our medicines and vaccines.” Adding that trust is the basis of reputation and essential for innovation, IFPMA remains committed to the establishment and promotion of ethical principles for the industry as a whole, and to partnering with organizations such as APEC to ensure that we all adapt to societal expectations of ever higher standards.

IFPMA welcomes APEC exploring strategies for governments to encourage ethical business conduct. By offering multiple pathways for adherence to a code of ethical practices, such as through enforcement but also procurement and regulatory incentives, governments can prevent unethical business conduct. IFPMA remains engaged in APEC’s capacity building objectives. IFPMA helped to develop an APEC SME “Leaders in Ethics and Integrity Program”, which was unveiled at the Forum. Called “LEIP” this program is built for the unique needs of SME founders and executives who are looking to jump ahead of the curve and is expected to begin with two pilot programmes.

About the IFPMA:

IFPMA represents the research-based pharmaceutical companies and associations across the globe. The research-based pharmaceutical industry’s 2 million employees discover, develop, and deliver medicines and vaccines that improve the life of patients worldwide. Based in Geneva, IFPMA has official relations with the United Nations and contributes industry expertise to help the global health community find solutions that improve global health.

International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations

International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA) represents research-based pharmaceutical companies and associations across the globe. Based in Geneva, IFPMA has official relations with the United Nations and contributes industry expertise to help the global health community find solutions that improve global health.

Research-based pharmaceutical companies make a unique contribution to global health as innovators of life-saving and life-changing medicines and vaccines, which improved millions of lives around the world. Both IFPMA and its companies are involved in hundreds of partnerships, including the Access Accelerated initiative, a partnership of over 20 biopharmaceutical companies developing innovative and sustainable solutions to improve access to non-communicable disease (NCDs) treatment and care in low- and middle income countries. Access Accelerated also partners with the World Bank and the Union of International Cancer Control to help address the full spectrum of access barriers to NCD medicines. These partnerships involve the discovery of treatments that threaten health security or unduly put a burden on low-income countries, as well as support Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by expanding access to medicines and vaccines and strengthening health systems and in doing so, contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3 and SDG 17).

IFPMA hosts the Secretariat of the AMR Industry Alliance, a coalition of over 100 biotechnology, diagnostic, generics and research-based biopharmaceutical companies and trade associations that was formed to drive and measure industry progress to curb antimicrobial resistance. IFPMA also played a key role in establishing the AMR Action Fund, a ground-breaking initiative involving over 20 biopharmaceutical companies, that aims to bring 2-4 new antibiotics to patients by 2030.

Other initiatives supported by IFPMA include: The African Global Health Leaders Fellowship, the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award, and Fight the Fakes.

More from International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations