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University of California San Francisco School of Medicine | |
| City: San Francisco | State: CA | |
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Commentary: New University of California system-wide policies have largely mitigated the concern that earlier University of California - San Francisco School of Medicine policies were guidelines only and "meant to be an interim step in the development of more broad-based policies for all UCSF faculty, students and staff." It is important to note that domains not covered by UC System policies would still be guidelines, and UCSF would do well to address and strengthen these areas. |
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| Gifts & Meals |  |
No personal gifts may be accepted by School of Medicine students, staff or faculty. The institution discourages gifts of any kind as part of non-professional activities. In addition, no meals funded directly by industry may be given at any School of Medicine location. This guideline is strengthened by UC system-wide vendor relations policy: Gifts and on-site meals provided directly by vendors are prohibited, inclusive of samples. However, gifts distributed at educational conferences are still allowed if the conference is accredited and all attendees are offered the gift. The specific example given was a branded tote bag. This exception undermines the attempt to remove the influence of gifting, and thus the School scored a 2 rather than a 3 in this domain. |
| Consulting relationships |  |
The School of Medicine calls for institutional review of only those agreements with potential conflicts of interest. There is no provision for a formal contract or appropriate payment for legitimate services. |
| Industry-funded speaking relationships | |
Compensation for speaking engagements must be reasonable, and the event or meeting must have been developed in accordance with ACCME guidelines. |
| Disclosure | |
Disclosure requirements appear only in a policy on conflicts of interest that pertain to receiving/disbursing research funds. Despite the policy’s name, it seems to require internal disclosure by all faculty who meet certain criteria for having a potential conflict of interest. |
| Pharmaceutical samples |  |
UC system-wide vendor relations policy: Samples may never go directly to physicians. They may only be donated to the department for trial in the minimum amount necessary, or donated for use at free clinics or by indigent patients only. |
| Purchasing & Formularies | |
Strong language. "Faculty or staff who serve as consultants, members of a speakers' bureau, have an equity interest in or another relationship with industry for which they receive personal compensation or other support must recuse themselves from deliberations or decision-making regarding the selection of products or services to be provided to the Medical Center or School of Medicine (e.g. selection of drugs to be added to the formulary) by the company." |
| Site Access | |
In general, representatives are permitted in non-patient care areas by appointment only, although each UCSF medical institution and medical center may have its own policies. UC system-wide vendor relations policy: By appointment only, and only in non-patient care areas. UCSF has also instituted a commendable firewall: “Health Care Vendor sales and marketing representatives may no longer leave any written materials with employees” |
| On-campus Education | |
The School of Medicine requires that all on-site educational activities adhere to ACCME standards and that all industry funds be given in the form of an unrestricted grant. UC system-wide vendor relations policy: ACCME standards apply to both accredited and non-accredited educational events organized by UC system universities. |
| Attendance at Industry-Sponsored Lectures & Meetings Off-Campus | |
The School of Medicine does not permit the acceptance of gifts or compensation of expenses for attending a CME event or listening to a sales talk by a representative of a commercial interest that distributes health care goods or services. UC system-wide vendor relations policy: No employee may accept travel or payment for attending off-site events. Travel and payment may only be accepted if providing a real service to the entity subsidizing said travel/payment. |
| Industry Support for Scholarships & Funds for Trainees | |
Funds and scholarships for students and trainees may be provided by industry, but industry may not select the recipient and the School of Medicine must determine that the event has educational merit. UC system-wide vendor relations policy: Only the department may select the recipients of scholarships and grants funded by industry. |
| Medical school curriculum | |
The School of Medicine did not provide a policy or examples indicating that its curriculum addresses conflicts of interest in relation to industry marketing. UC system-wide vendor relations policy: Mandatory training for all employees including students on proper interaction with vendors and the nature of marketing influence. |
| Do the policies specify an oversight mechanism? |  |
Chancellor's Conflict of Interest Advisory Committee is responsible for overseeing conflicts of interest as assessed by the disclosure policy. |
| Are there explicit sanctions for noncompliance? |  |
The School of Medicine has introduced guidelines only on conflicts of interest, and listed no sanctions for non-compliance. |
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| Model policy |
| Good progress toward model policy |
| No policy, or policy unlikely to have a substantial effect on behavior |
 | Did not report |
 | Policy not relevant to this institution (e.g., does not make purchasing decisions) |
