European medtech industry association Eucomed will launch a conference pre-vetting system in early 2012 to assess all third-party educational conferences and congresses sponsored by its members.

The new system is the first of its kind in the healthcare industry, because its assessments will be binding.

The independent Eucomed Compliance Panel will assess educational events for compliance with the association’s Code of Ethical Business Practice in relation to such factors as scientific content, location and venue.

Each outcome will be made publicly available via a dedicated website, and relevant stakeholders will be notified.

The Eucomed Code allows member companies to sponsor third-party educational events such as medical congresses, seminars and training courses, subject to restrictions. Until now, members had to establish their compliance independently. The new system will apply a uniform compliance determination process to all Eucomed members.

“The conference pre-vetting system is a unique initiative in the healthcare sector,” said John McLoughlin, Chairman of the Compliance Panel. “It will be supervised solely by our Panel, which is a completely independent body. Eucomed members are required to follow the assessments.

“If a conference receives a negative assessment, Eucomed members may not sponsor either the conference or individual healthcare professionals who wish to attend the conference.”

John Wilkinson, Eucomed’s Chief Executive, added that the new system “is not only necessary for our members in their day-to-day activities but is also key to increasing the consistency and transparency of industry behaviour.”

Eucomed intends to give key stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the assessment criteria.

The pre-vetting system will begin as a pilot and be reviewed 6–12 months after its launch. It will be the sole responsibility of the Compliance Panel.

Eucomed represents 22,500 designers, manufacturers and suppliers of medical technologies in Europe.

Former Pfizer employees have established a research networking firm to be based at their previous workplace in Sandwich, Kent (pictured).

Seven ex-Pfizer staff members will be part of The Research Network, “a bit like a dating agency for scientists”, as described by its CEO, Andrew McElroy.

He explained that the company would help biotech and pharmaceutical companies connect with partners for outsourcing research productivity.

“We are a talented team of experienced drug discovery scientists who have a broad knowledge of the scientific services market place, what things cost, how long projects will take and who provides the best service.”

Pfizer put the site up for sale in June, with the Government naming the Discovery Park as an Enterprise Zone.

Kent County Council has previously warned that financial recovery in the area could take up to a decade, but MPs have since begun campaigning for investment interest in the site.

Significant interest has been shown in the site, hoping to attract around 190 businesses, which will in turn create around 2,500 new jobs, replacing the 2,400 lost when Pfizer decided to close the plant in February.

The drug giant was previously criticised for its lack of support to those who were made redundant, and only retained 350 employees at the plant until it vacates the premises by the end of 2012.

The Government has denied claims that deprived areas of England will lose out to affluent locations under NHS reforms.

The accusations come from Labour, highlighting figures suggesting that funding changes to primary care trusts will result in Manchester suffering cuts of £42million and Liverpool losing £33million.

This was contrasted with Surrey, who will receive an extra £61million, and Hampshire set to receive an increase of £52million.

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley rejected these claims, stating “We’re not taking money away from any parts of England, we’re increasing the budget for the health service in England.

“The average increase in each PCT is 3% compared to the provision the previous year. The minimum increase is 2.5%.”

Shadow Health Secretary John Healey said that the figures reveal that the Tories’ NHS plans will make inequality worse, not better: “The plans will hit services that help people stop smoking, promote healthy eating and exercise and raise awareness about the risks of sexually transmitted diseases.”

The Government stated that the funding changes were based on independent advice and that Labour's figures are misleading.

The DH said that a greater emphasis on the prevention of illness would assist those living in poorer parts of England in the future.