Collaboration between the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare professionals (HCPs), healthcare organisations (HCOs), and patient organisations (POs) is fundamental to advancing healthcare and delivering better outcomes for patients. These partnerships continue to play a pivotal role in bringing forward new vaccines and therapies, and innovations that transform lives. From prevention and awareness campaigns to shaping clinical research and regulatory decision-making, these relationships form a crucial pillar of Europe’s healthcare ecosystem, removing silos and ensuring decision are made with people rather than for people.

To ensure these collaborations are not only effective but open and transparent, in 2013, EFPIA took the proactive step to add requirements to disclose payments made to HCPs and HCOs in the EFPIA Code of Practice. Provisions for the disclosure of payments to patient organisations were already featured since 2011. The initiative aimed to enhance transparency around transfers of value – financial or in-kind support – between the pharmaceutical industry and HCPs, HCOs, and POs.

Ten years on, this commitment has evolved into a new way of working that helps build public trust, improves the understanding of these important relationships, and fosters a more open, accountable healthcare environment.

Increasing disclosure rates – key to building trust

European data protection legislation requires legal basis for the publication of personal data, such as individuals to give their consent before these transfers of value can be publicly disclosed. So building greater transparency has required partnership, commitment and understanding from both industry and the health community.  And the results have been increasing rates of disclosure. Positive consent levels have steadily improved, especially in countries like Ireland, Switzerland and Norway, where consent rates now approach 100%. An interesting example comes from Spain, which since 2017 discloses all the transfers of value on an individual basis – meaning that every euro disclosed is associated with a named health professional. This is thanks to a decision from the Spanish Personal Data Protection Agency, which concluded that healthcare professionals’ consent was not necessary for the disclosure, as the general legitimate interest prevailed over individual interest.

Our hope is that these increases reflect a growing confidence among HCPs in how society perceives disclosure, and an understanding of the role transparency can play in developing and maintaining positive relationships. There are, of course, some cultural difference in attitudes to transparency across Europe, resulting in lower levels of disclosure in some countries. We believe that constructive dialogue, making the case for greater transparency, is the most effective way to make public disclosure of transfers of value the norm and an accepted part of the health community culture.

Disclosure only equates to transparency if the data is accessible

In response to concerns about the fragmented nature of disclosure reporting, EFPIA created a central European gateway that connects to national platforms and company websites. A standardised format for methodological notes will also be implemented, helping ensure consistency, comparability, and clarity across disclosures.

These actions make it easier for stakeholders – including patients, policymakers, and the public – to access, interpret, and trust the data.

Transparency is not a static target

Ten years on, transparency is not a static goal, it is a collective movement to ensure patients, the public and any interested partners have confidence in the relationships between industry and the people we work with. EFPIA remains committed to listening, adapting, and improving the framework over time. We will continue to support harmonisation across categories of disclosure, continue to refine guidance to companies and health professionals as well as share best practices to improve the quality and usefulness of the data.

To reinforce this commitment, EFPIA member companies have certified their adherence to the disclosure provisions of the EFPIA Code. This is more than compliance; it is a pledge to uphold transparency as a core value of our industry.

A decade of disclosure, a decade of partnership

Bringing greater transparency to this already well-regulated and essential relationship builds public understanding and supports long-term collaboration. We recognise that societal expectations around transparency continue to increase, particularly in healthcare. As an industry, we will continue to work in partnership with healthcare professionals, organisations, and patient groups to ensure we meet those expectations. Together, we can strengthen the trust that underpins collaboration, reinforce the legitimacy of our relationships, and continue delivering the innovations that improve patients’ lives across Europe.

Discover more on efpia.eu/relationships-code