In the long run, clarity trumps transparency

In the closing presentation of the conference, Neil Kendle urged delegates to be realistic about what transparency could truly achieve, to accept that the media were always likely to want the pharmaceutical industry to be the bad guy and to seek clarity with Key Experts by realising that interactions with them should be "a marathon not a sprint."

Kendle is a long-term pioneer of industry-community relationships himself and challenged the industry to listen more and engage with experts with greater maturity. Explaining that the online bookseller, Amazon, knows more about the 'strangers' who make purchases than industry does about those with whom it cannot be close enough, Kendle told industry to stop being coy and to start displaying candour. Respectful reciprocity is what medical leaders want but rarely get, even though it is evident that KOLs feel more comfortable with a trusting and open relationship, Infact, experts are au fait with the jargon and lexicon that surrounds their relationships with industry - happily describing themselves as 'rising stars' and stating that they want to collaborate in a way that suits their attributes and preferences and to have upfront discussions about money.

This is especially so as KOLS are fast-becoming targets of media scrutiny and responsibilities are changing as high-profile cases of failure-to-disclose the monies gained from industry interactions are emerging. Stories of OLs being 'met by the feds' as they get on and off trains are not urban myths but a reality of the times. As such, everyone is better-served with clear contracts, scopes-of-work and consultancy arrangements that facilitate transparency.

Unfortunately, Kendle's experiences are that industry are a little behind the KOLs in terms of frankness and organisation. There is inhibition about disclosing or agreeing fair market value for activities across the industry and as a result, people in organisations often don't know how much an opinion leader is being paid or should be paid which will only lead to overpayments and continuing vulnerability to exposure for misdeeds - perceived. mediated or actual.