Can a company promote to a non-medical prescriber? What about MPs, patient organisation personnel, medical students - can they attend pharmaceutical company exhibition stands?

Companies can promote to an individual whose role meets the definition of a health professional (Clause 1.9) or, where applicable, an other relevant decision maker (Clause 1.13). If the individual's role does not meet either definition, then they are likely to be considered a member of the public.

Prescription only medicines (POMs) must not be advertised to the public, which might include MPs, patient organisation personnel and medical students. The individual circumstances would need to be considered very carefully.

Where medical students are a member of a multidisciplinary team, it might be appropriate to include them in meetings for their health professional colleagues. Promotion of prescription only medicines to a group of medical students is unlikely to be acceptable. Exhibition stands must be suitable for the audience and if this includes members of the public, POMs must not be advertised.