Can Representatives use visit request forms?

The purpose of pharmaceutical representative visit request forms is for the representatives to provide the medicines management teams with a brief outline of what they want to talk to them about. Although the precise detail of the forms differ slightly, the information typically requested consists of the representative’s name, contact details etc, name of the medicine, its indication and the reason for the visit. The medicines management teams etc use the information provided to decide whether they want to see the representative. The forms may be a valuable tool but, in complying with a request to complete one of the forms, representatives may be unwittingly creating a piece of promotional material which is unlikely to comply with the Code.

Companies could consider pre-approving material which will provide the medicines management teams etc with the brief overview that they need and ensure that the representatives do not create their own pieces of promotional material. It would be helpful if, on such material, it is explained to the medicines management teams why their forms cannot be completed by the representative.