AdvaMed Signs Ethics MOU With Brazil Medtech Groups

The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) has entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with three key Brazil device associations to facilitate cross-border harmonization of ethical business practices among manufacturers, third-party distributors and health care professionals in Brazil.
 
The Brazil MOU reflects the groups’ eagerness to respond to the country’s new Clean Companies anti-bribery law.

Groups signing the MOU with AdvaMed include:  Associação Brasileira da Indústria de Alta Tecnologia de Equipamentos, Produtos e Suprimentos Médico-Hospitalares (ABIMED); Associação Brasileira de Importadores e Distribuidores de Implantes (ABRAIDI); and Câmara Brasileira de Diagnóstico Laboratorial (CBDL).

“The signing of this MOU shows our industry’s unwavering commitment to develop a cohesive international approach to interactions between medical technology companies and healthcare providers, premised on the highest ethical standards,” AdvaMed President/CEO Stephen J. Ubl said. “These interactions are essential to advancing medical innovation and enhancing the safe and effective use of medical products. By working to harmonize and extend our collective ethical standards for these interactions on a global level, we increase transparency into these relationships and demonstrate their critical role in continued innovation and improved patient outcomes.”

Under the MOU, AdvaMed and ABIMED, ABRAIDI and CBDL plan to jointly assist their members to implement ethical business practices and serve as models for the Brazilian medical technology community. The Brazil associations recognize the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on interactions with health care professionals as one of multiple AdvaMed best practices tools and documents available to guide their compliance efforts and initiatives.

All parties to the agreement express their commitment to the following:


·         — Joint compliance training initiatives;
·         — Joint educational workshops and programs;
·         — Sharing of best practices;
·         — Regular exchange;
·         — Open dialogue;
·         — Ethical behavior and business practices;
·         — Information dissemination; and
·         — Implementation and compliance.


“Through this MOU, the associations memorialize their shared commitment to advance high ethical business practices and joint compliance training and education in Brazil,” said Christopher L. White, AdvaMed senior executive vice president, general counsel.