With summer holidays and travel underway, it’s a good time to revisit some key considerations when facilitating cross-border engagements with healthcare professionals (HCPs).

International events and engagements pose unique challenges for life sciences companies. Apart from just the logistics associated with such events, ensuring compliance with local regulations is paramount to remaining in good standing both legally and reputationally.

Regulations often apply to single countries or, in some cases, states within those countries. Not many of these regulations are federally enforced, with most national codes being developed by industry groups. These groups typically take the form of multiple life sciences companies from the same country or region collaborating to share knowledge, develop best practices and codify standards. The European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associates, or EFPIA, is a great example of this strategy in action.

Following both country and industry group regulations can be challenging enough to navigate when life sciences companies and HCPs operate in the same country under identical frameworks. However, in the case of cross-border engagements – when events require the services of an HCP who practices outside of the country where the engagement will take place – there are additional considerations to grapple with:

• Should compensation be governed by the regulations of a contracted HCPs home country?
• Should the rules of the country hosting the event take precedence?
• Should the approach incorporate regulations from both countries and find a common ground?

These are just some of the questions that life sciences companies need to consider when organizing cross-border engagements. Does your organization factor in additional parameters? Cutting Edge Information would love to hear from you!

Share your cross-border engagement stories with us below to start a discussion on this complex compliance challenge. We will put together the information you submit and will post again with your (anonymized) stories and strategies!