Conflict of Interest issues

1. Conflict of Interest issues August 24th & 25th 2012 Mid-term Meeting of IAPCOI, The Hyatt Regency Hotel, Mumbai Vipin M. Vashishtha, MD, FIAP Convener, IAPCOI 2011-13 vipinipsita@gmail.com

2. Background • Discussed this issue in past three meetings: • July 16, 2011, Mumbai • December 24th & 25th , 2011, Mumbai • Gurgaon 21st January, 2012 • No unanimity so far!!

3. Current status • Self declaration (since the last meeting): for all members, advisors, and office bearers • Mandatory for all the invitees including experts also • Proposing a “Code of Conduct” for prospective members, advisors, OBs, etc i.e. for the next committee

4. Why the need arose? • Allegations against functioning of COI • Accusation against integrity of the members • “Evidence-based recommendations” incompatible without a strict code of conduct for the members • WHO accreditation demand strict adherence to this code on conflict of interest issues • We have now publicly declared to adhere to proper conduct and driven by a strict code

5. Does it affect the process of issuing recommendations? • Recent examples

6. Will declaration alone be sufficient? • Is disclosing conflicts of interest like purifying in the Ganges river? • “Our idea is that disclosing a COI, even if mandatory, is not sufficient to “purify” from the “sin” of conflicting interests; and awareness on this problem should be raised”. • Ricci Z, Romagnoli S. J Crit Care. 2011 Aug; 26(4):429-30

7. Shakespeare's Honorable Men and Conflicts of Interest • “it is difficult to be convinced that members of the IAPCOI (and many others not on the committee) have never received any support, tokens of appreciation and grants of any sort from the Vaccine Industry. • It appears that they remain convinced that accepting support has no role to play in their decision making process though they are human. I'm sure that even the Industry will disagree with them”.

8. The way out?