Veterans Affairs Sets New Regulations For Marketing Practices

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a new regulation on 9 March that restricts access to facilities owned by the VA. Representatives of pharmaceutical companies will be subject to much stricter regulations governing their ability to engage in promotional, educational and conversational activities with VA staff.

Pharmaceutical representatives will be required to:

• Disclose their company ties at the beginning of talks
• Portray all information accurately
• Give talks with educational-and not just marketing-value
• Data used in presentations much be sourced and compared to other data sources
• Presentations do not solicit patient participation in pharmaceutical company-sponsored programs
• Patient educational materials cannot be adorned with the company's logo, or must be inconspicuous
• Pharmaceutical representatives may not give physicians or VA staff food or gifts
• Pharmaceutical samples must be submitted for approval to the appropriate VA staff
• Contacts with VA physicians must be by appointment only
• Marketing is not allowed towards students or residents of the VA system

The regulations only apply to such activities occurring inside VA facilities-all other activities outside facilities continue to be subject to applicable US Food and Drug Administration and Federal Trade Commission regulations.

The VA operates one of the largest healthcare systems in the world, with 5.3 million patients under its care in more than 1,300 physical locations around the country.  

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