INTRODUCTION

The Association Innovative Medicines stands for a healthy future. We represent pharmaceutical companies that are fully committed to research and development of new medicines. Together we work on solutions to make people better and to improve quality of life. We are making the medicines for tomorrow, for the treatment of diseases that are difficult to treat or are as yet untreatable.

Dutch healthcare is among the best in the world. We maintain our lead and strengthen this unique position by making agreements and working with all partners in the healthcare sector. Together with doctors, researchers and patients, amongst others, we are committed to the availability of safe and high-quality medicines.

The Netherlands wants te be a global leader in Life Sciences & Health. We share this ambition and contribute to it every day. By investing in innovations and a favourable research climate. In doing so, we seek the right balance between social interests and business results. We strive for added value for all parties in the healthcare chain.

As a result, the Association’s members also have a great social responsibility. It is our responsibility to continue to develop innovative treatments and to make them available to patients. We emphasise this by means of this Code.

We are obligated to comply with existing legislation and regulations and are committed to the sector’s further self-regulation. This Code complements this legislation and is in line with international guidelines. The Code provides our core values: integrity, transparency, social responsibility and quality.

The Code is a guideline for all Dutch branches of companies that are members of the Association Innovative Medicines. It is part of the learning culture in our sector, a foundation for setting boundaries, identifying dilemmas and conducting a dialogue. The new Code is a growth model; it will be further shaped on the basis of experiences and societal developments.

With this Code, we show what we stand for and where we want to go, but also where we draw the line. Because we want to ensure that the Dutch healthcare remains sustainable accessible and affordable, it is important to agree on what we can hold each other accountable for. The Code is the basis from which we commit ourselves to optimal cooperation with all parties involved in healthcare.

An independent Advisory Board monitors compliance with the Code. In this way, the Association Innovative Medicines can call individual members to account for their actions and, as the ultimate consequence if they fail to comply timely, can also expel them. The Advisory Board issues an annual report and advices on how to work on further development and improvement of the Code.

This is how we are working towards a better Dutch healthcare system and a healthy future for all of us.

Dutch Association Innovative Medicines