Can our laptops save us?

Just like an alcoholic holding his hand up to speak, accepting the need for transparency is a first step on the road to reform. Central to any efforts toward transparency in expert-industry interactions is the concept of audit. In the final presentation of the day, Sanjay Singhvi, Director of System Analytic described the use of technology to both regulate and enhance the KOL-industry relationship.

Among many areas, Singhvi identified tracking remuneration, specific compliance needs, grants audit trails, market value justification, KOL extranets, speakers bureaux, KOL profiling, social network analysis, and internal activity tracking. In many respects, these are simple uses of technology if also, by Singhvi's own admission, rather dull.

What about other applications? Taking as his cue the leitmotif of the meeting - transparency - Singhvi explored 3 case studies using limited or negligible technology. Analysis of publication databases can provide information not only about fields of interest but also about scientific networks. Citing the US experience of 'teller towers', where customers and bank teller see the same information, Singhvi described its application to KOL databases to encourage KOL ownership and thus contribution to their own database. KOLs sign off their own data.

In a second example, Singhvi addressed compliance. The onus to comply is for both parties and ignorance is no defence. The solution, applicable to any KOL activity, is to move the presentation and acknowledgement of regulations closer to the activity itself. Singhvi cited the example of off-label usage discussions. The third example addressed a sea of interactions that prevail at international meetings. The solution is to impose a meeting management tool to mediate between KOLs and brand teams.

In conclusion, Singhvi focussed on five 5 Ts - transparency, trust, tenancy, totality and truth. Singhvi saw these less as a hurdle and more about opportunities to boost collaboration using agile, integrated solutions.