IPHA response to Sinn Féin’s Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022 as disclosure rates continue to rise.
IPHA response to Sinn Féin’s Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022 as disclosure rates continue to rise.
- Disclosure rates to named healthcare professionals for 2023 was 96%; 2024 rates set to be maintained if not higher.
- Industry willing to work with Government to ensure transparency and integrity in their interactions with healthcare professionals.
19th June 2025
The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA), representing the research-based biopharmaceutical industry in Ireland, note Sinn Féin’s proposed Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022 due for Second Stage Debate in the Dáil later today (Thursday). Ahead of this debate, we would like to reaffirm IPHA’s unwavering commitment to integrity and transparency in all interactions between our member companies and healthcare professionals (HCPs) and healthcare organisations (HCOs).
The shared ambition of our member companies is to bring innovative treatments to Irish patients under the guidance of qualified HCPs. We place great value on our longstanding, ethical relationships with doctors, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists, whose experience and insight are essential to advancing the development and appropriate use of new medicines.
Our industry has already taken significant steps to ensure accountability and transparency in all such engagements with the healthcare community. Since July 2016, in line with the IPHA Code of Practice for the Pharmaceutical Industry, companies have disclosed financial transfers of value—whether direct or indirect, in cash or in kind—made to HCPs and HCOs. IPHA members are required to disclose, and these disclosures are publicly accessible on www.transferofvalue.ie which is open to all pharmaceutical companies to use, not just IPHA members. Currently, of the 50 companies who publish their data through the platform, 11 are non IPHA members.
For 2023 data, we achieved 100% named disclosure for HCOs and 96% for HCPs. We expect the 2024 data, due for publication on June 30th, 2025, will maintain or exceed these strong levels of transparency.
Our aim is to reach 100% named disclosure for HCPs, and we will continue to support our member companies in using legitimate interest as a legal basis for making these disclosures under data protection law.
IPHA believes that any legislative proposals in this area must be informed by the progress that has already been made by the industry. We are very willing to work with Government to ensure more companies, and indeed other sectors such as medical devices, use this already established and effective website to disclose their payments to HCPs and HCOs.
Constructive engagement with stakeholders, including Oireachtas members, remains a priority as we continue to uphold the highest standards of conduct in support of patient care and public confidence.
Note:
For any questions relating to Transfers of Value, please consult the Q&A section on the IPHA website here
