CFM says it will force doctors to declare links with pharmaceutical companies
But the CFM rule only requires mention of the existence of the bond, not the declaration of the amounts received. The CFM’s intention is to make the information available for public consultation.
Furthermore, the resolution only covers the provision of services by doctors. This includes remuneration for courses and lectures, product promotions and research. Doctors will have to declare the information to the CFM within 60 days after payment for services.
Gifts received by doctors, such as trips to international congresses, were left out of the CFM resolution. This corresponds to the majority of resources paid by the health industry to professionals, according to an analysis of the Facto News.
The initial text brought to the CFM discussion was more ambitious: it covered both the declaration of values and gifts. But during the discussion, these parts were suppressed. The topic was taken to the CFM by Raphael Câmara, the entity’s advisor. The inspiration came from a proposal for a Provisional Measure presented by Marcelo Queiroga, then minister of health, to Jair Bolsonaro, at the time president.
The CFM standard also provides that doctors must declare conflicts of interest when giving interviews. The rule exempted medical societies from declaring ties with the healthcare industry.
The CFM says that the objective is to prevent “conflicts of interest from interfering with” medical actions. The entity also states that the new rules create “a new paradigm” for relations between doctors and industry, without interfering with the autonomy of professionals.
