Ethical guidelines

Tulosta

21 September 2005

INTRODUCTION

PURPOSE

OBJECTIVE

SALES AND MARKETING

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

REPRESENTATION

PROMOTIONAL AND BUSINESS GIFTS

BRIBERY

Introduction

Sailab ry is an industry association for producers and suppliers of health care and laboratory equipment and supplies. Its purpose is to promote its members’ general common interests and the operational requirements of companies in the industry.

The association fulfils its purpose by e.g. giving recommendations to its members.

Purpose

The purpose of Sai-Lab ry’s ethical guidelines is to create a common basis for its members’ business activities and to promote the uniform use of good business practices in the health care sector.

Objective

Sailab ry’s ethical guidelines aim to: ensure the independence of parties in the health care sector, ensure the ethical practices of the member companies of Sailab ry and the ethical management of their relationships with clients, patients, authorities, other companies and other actors in the health care sector.

Sales and marketing

The members of Sailab ry compete fairly and honestly in their business activities and follow the current laws and decrees and authority regulations.

The properties of goods for sale and services offered are to be presented clearly and truthfully. Misleading expressions are not to be used in marketing.

Comparisons between competing products must be based on factual evidence.

It is not permitted to offer or receive personal, financial or other benefits. This also applies to benefits offered or received through associations or companies.

Companies nevertheless have the opportunity to provide reasonable funding for travel or other purposes to charitable associations, provided that the associations decide on the granting of these funds independently.

Education and training

Educational visits organised by companies mean professional product training and viewing reference sites.

The educational event and travel to the educational event must be organised so that, with the exception of travel days, the majority of the time used by the participants in these events involves health care related programmes or education.

Invitations to educational events must be addressed to the client organisation.

Sites must be selected so as to maximise professional benefit.

Representation

Representation is part of the business activity of companies in the health care sector.

Representational events must be related to business activities, and the hospitality at these events must not exceed the expenses that a typical guest to the event would be prepared to cover, were they to pay for their own expenses. A company representative must always participate in the representational event.

Companies must not support clients’ staff events. Examples of such events include pre-Christmas parties and recreational events for staff.

Promotional and business gifts

Ordinary promotional and business gifts are part of the normal business activities of the health care sector. Promotional and business gifts are typically mass-produced products of a reasonable value that are distributed to several people.

It is unacceptable to give money or vouchers as business gifts.

Collaboration partners may be given more individual gifts on their major anniversaries.