12Provision of Funding

12.1General PrinciplesAdd to favorites

12.1.1 Members recognize their responsibility to support worthwhile activities both within and outside their communities.
12.1.2 Members must ensure that there are no incentives to prescribe, recommend, dispense, purchase, supply, approve, reimburse or administer a product in exchange for any form of funding{{1}}.
12.1.3 Support cannot be provided to an individual Stakeholder or to an entity that is controlled in fact by an individual Stakeholder or its family member, legal representative or agent with the exception of : 1) sponsorship of an individual Health Care Professional or Other Stakeholder to attend an international conference or meeting event (in accordance with Section 10.2) or 2) in the case of investigator-initiated studies where the individual Stakeholder is the investigator of the study{{2}}; .
12.1.4 A written rationale and clear objective consistent with the Guiding Principles of this Code should accompany all requests for funding{{3}}. When accepting a request for funding, Members must document the nature of funding provided in a written agreement.
12.1.5 Funding must be clearly acknowledged in accordance with Section 3.4.1.
12.1.6 Funding must not be provided in a way that can undermine the independence of the recipient.
12.1.7 Members should conduct appropriate due diligence to ensure that recipients: (i) are appropriate and reputable; and (ii) have the capacity and skills to undertake the funded activity. Members must not influence the use or implementation of the support beyond general requirements to ensure that it is used in accordance with the written agreement between the Member and the recipient.

12.2Donations and GrantsAdd to favorites

12.2.1 Donations are provisions of funding or in-kind contributions to support healthcare in general, local communities, or other charitable and philanthropic. The Member company does not control or influence the support provided or acquire a tangible benefit.Grants are provisions of funding to support independent bona-fide scientific, medical, or healthcare-related activities (undertaken for educational, informational or research purposes), where the Member company does not control, influence or participate in the design or conduct of the activity or acquire a tangible benefit from the funding{{4}}.
Grants are provided in response to an unsolicited request from eligible organization, while donations may be solicited{{5}}.
12.2.2 Standards
1. 12.2.2.1 Donations, including donations in kind, may only be provided to not-for-profit organizations and registered charities involved in conducting activities such as artistic, charitable, cultural, community, educational, humanitarian, health, philanthropic, and sporting endeavours. In accordance with Section 12.1.3, donations must not be provided to private medical practices or clinics.
2. 12.2.2.2 Grants may be provided to groups or associations of Stakeholders to organize bona fide activities such as medical research, public policy research, continuing professional education, and training or to support any project that will enhance patient outcomes or relates to patient or community education or community projects that promote better health care. Grants must not be provided to private medical practices/clinics or academic societies, or professional associations or organizations for routine operational costs{{6}}
3. 12.2.2.3 Grants and Donations must not be provided for, nor directed to promotional purposes and must not be disguised promotion. Acknowledgement by the recipient organization of such support must be restricted to an appropriate statement of support and follow the guidance frameworks for promotion provided by Health Canada{{7}}.

12.3SponsorshipsAdd to favorites

12.3.1 Definition
Sponsorships are provisions of funding or in-kind contributions to support bona-fide scientific, medical, healthcare-related or other activities (undertaken for education, informational, research or related purposes), where the Member company may control, influence or participate in the design or conduct of the activity or acquire a tangible benefit.{{8}}. Sponsorships may be solicited or unsolicited and may include programs, projects, or activities{{9}}.
12.3.2 Standards
1. 12.3.2.1 Sponsorships are provided to organizations involved in educational, health related, scientific or medical activities.
2. 12.3.2.2 Members may provide financial or non-financial support to registered charities and/or not-for-profit organizations through the sponsorship of a fundraising activity, which may include the purchase of a table or tables at a dinner or other social event, the purchase of a foursome at a golf tournament, or other sporting or cultural activity. Individuals invited by Members to attend such fundraising activities may be Stakeholders other than Health Care Professionals, their spouses and/or administrative staff.
3. 12.3.2.2 It is recognized that Members may not have an active role and participation in the sponsored program, project or activity. Members could sponsor an activity initiated by an organization without having any shared responsibility for the delivery of the activity; however, with the expectation to receive a tangible benefit.
4. 12.3.2.3 The program/project objectives, purpose of the sponsored activity and defined benefit to the Member must be clearly articulated and documented in a written agreement. In addition, Members’ contribution, whether financial or in kind must be clearly acknowledged and accurately reflected in the terms of the written agreement.