The National Medicines Organisation (“EOF”) has issued a new Circular no. 69869/02.08.2017 (the “New Circular”) setting anew the rules on the organisation and sponsoring of scientific events and congresses and the participation of Healthcare Professionals (the “HCPs”) in such events. The New Circular is effective from 01 September 2017 and applies to the promotional activity of all companies subject to EOF supervision, namely pharmaceutical and medical devices companies, as well as biocidals, food supplements and cosmetics companies (the “Companies”). Although different in structure from the previous Circular no. 17702/19.02.2016, the New Circular is still perplexing and in substance brings no radical amendments.
The main changes introduced by the New Circular are the following:
- Classification of Scientific Events into Type A and B is no longer applicable. Under the New Circular Scientific Events are conferences, seminars and similar continuing education events of purely scientific content held in Greece or abroad organised by state entities, non-profit scientific societies, private clinics and Companies supervised by EOF and are funded by such Companies. They are divided into (a) National or International Scientific events held either in Greece or abroad, (b) promotional scientific events and (c) patients awareness events.
- National Scientific Events are further classified into three categories, namely (i) Panhellenic Congresses, (ii) Scientific One-Day Events and (iii) Seminars, whereas International Scientific Events are further classified into (i) World Congresses, (ii) European Congresses, (iii) Events for Rare Diseases and (iv) Special Seminars held in Europe and North America.
- Each Company may organise 48 scientific events per year maximum. The event’s program should be of at least four hour duration and the whole event may last up to three days.
- Companies interested in organising scientific events must electronically submit their applications with EOF four times during each year, namely in January, April, July and October and at least two months prior to the event’s date.
- Sponsorship of International Scientific Congresses held in Greece may not exceed the amount of Euro 30,000 per Company.
- HCPs are not obliged to submit to EOF documents evidencing the educational leave allowing their participation to scientific events.
- Sponsorship of participants meals in case of National events cannot exceed the amount of Euro 70 per day (including VAT) and sponsorship for their accommodation is set at the amount of Euro 150 per day (including VAT), while for International events these amounts are capped to Euro 70 and 250 respectively (including VAT).
- In addition to International Congresses and Specialised Seminars organised abroad HCPs may now also participate in scientific events which take place abroad and offer training on rare diseases.
