The Code of Practice

Ethical standards and compliance with applicable laws are critical to the medical technology industry's ability to continue its successful collaboration with healthcare professionals.  To enhance this relationship MTAA and the Medical Technology Association of New Zealand (MTANZ) have jointly developed a Code of Practice to facilitate ethical interactions with healthcare professionals and others in the medical technology industry.

The Code of Practice is a self-regulatory industry code that regulates several key areas of industry activity, f.e. claims and endorsements in advertising and promotional material, product training and education, third party educational conferences and hospitality, consultancy and fellowships.

The Code contains a complaints process which can be used by members of the medical technology industry, healthcare professionals, consumers and other organisations.

For enquiries relating to the industry Code of Practice please contact MTAA on (02) 9900 0650 or email code@mtaa.org.au.

Information on the Code of Practice

The 5^th Edition of the MTAA/MTANZ Code of Practice commenced on 1 October 2009. 

Changes to the 5^th edition of the Code are summarized in this document.

A Understanding the Code of Practice Brochure, giving an overview of the content of the Code, is available here.

A postcard, explaining what health professionals can expect from working with medical technology companies, can be accessed here. 

Companies wishing to order Code brochures and/or hardcopy Code postcards to use in their interactions with health professionals should contact reception@mtaa.org.au.

Reports from the Code Complaints Committee

• Report from meeting on 13 October 2009

Training on the Code of Practice

The Code requires that employees understand the Code and its implications for the way a company does business. MTAA offers a range of training modules aimed at providing a better understanding of company responsilbilities under the Code. Training on the Code of Practice for Members and Non-Members is available here.

Therapeutic Goods Advertising Code (TGAC)

The link to the TGAC is published on the Therapeutic Goods Administration website. The TGAC covers therapeutic product advertisements directed to consumers.

Susan Anido, head of the TGA advertising unit, gave a presentation at the MTAA annual conference in 2009 explaining the TGAC in more detail.

AOA Guidelines for interaction with medical industry

The Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA) has recently circulated a position statement on the interaction with medical industry.  The position statement aligns closely with the MTAA Code but the one major difference is that an orthopaedic surgeon may not accept financial or in-kind support from a company to participate in an industry meeting unless he/she is on the faculty. This is intended to include education and training meetings organised by a company.

It is the final paper adopted by the AOA Council and therefore binding on its members.  The AOA CEO has advised that he expects that the paper will be reviewed regularly (as is the MTAA Code).  He also says that the close alignment with the MTAA Code "reflects the constructive communication and cooperation that has taken place in recent times between our organisations". The AOA also encourages MTAA members to recognise and respond to the requirements on clinicians regarding non-acceptance of financial support to attend meetings.

The statement is available on the AOA website or access the document here.