COCIR representatives including industry legal and compliance officers were present at the 2012 International Medical Device Industry Compliance Conference held in Stockholm on May 9-11 and actively participated in focused panel discussions on current global compliance issues confronting the medical device and diagnostics industry.

This year’s conference agenda featured a variety of sessions and roundtables to address, amongst others, global anti-corruption trends and risk management and transparency.  Anti-corruption is high on the agenda of governments everywhere in the world and transparency/Sunshine Acts (i.e. the reporting of payments by the industry to healthcare professionals) is rapidly gaining ground in Europe and elsewhere (for example, Russia, Korea, Poland, Japan and Slovakia).

All conference attendees shared the view that compliance should focus less on fear of enforcement and high penalties and place more emphasis on doing the right thing in the interest of society, employees, customers and patients.

Representatives of healthcare professional associations expressed their desire to enter into a dialogue with industry associations on the subject of compliance and this presents an excellent opportunity for COCIR to respond to such invitations.

Meanwhile, COCIR has published a complete edition of its pan-European Code of Conduct. The compact booklet, also available online, brings together all the elements necessary for the effective implementation of the Code of Conduct.  Conference attendees were keen to learn more about the COCIR Code and the Code of Conduct booklet was widely distributed and met with a positive response.

Nicole Denjoy, COCIR Secretary General said, “This complete edition of the COCIR Code of Conduct will facilitate better implementation and support the further actions that are planned to enhance the COCIR Code both in Europe and worldwide”.

For press questions please contact:

    Kathryn Sheridan
    COCIR Communications Advisor
    00 32 (0) 496 116198
    press@cocir.org

Sign up feature for press releases