Virtual academic conferences consider e-booth as alternative

Revised regulation on alternative sponsorship to be set in June for fall events

Academia and industry urge for flexible option to be reflected on Fair Competition Agreement

Corporate booth participating in an offline academic conference (Source: Daily Pharm DB)

Academic conferences in Korea are going through changes as many of academic events around the world are either canceled or postponed amid COVID-19 outbreak.

 

While the medical experts predict the outbreak would not end anytime soon, a number of medical academia have either convened virtual conference or are planning on one to replace their offline conference.

 

But as the regulations related to virtual conferences are not yet specified, the government, pharmaceutical industry and the affected academic societies have decided to revise the relevant regulations.

 

On May 20, officials from the government, industry and academic societies held a press conference and announced the regulations would be amended within this month for the fall conferences to refer to.

 

According to Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), the current Fair Competition Agreement only stipulates offline sponsorship of academic conference by pharmaceutical companies, which does not reflect the recent circumstances.

 

In fact, Korean Diabetes Association has already conducted an online conference, but the pharmaceutical company sponsorship was not properly managed by the relevant regulation.

 

Medical academic conferences are essential events to share the latest medical findings and to educate healthcare professionals.

 

Pharmaceutical and medical device companies make significant financial contribution to the conferences as they use the events to showcase their products in development or latest clinical outcomes through presentations by medical professionals.

 

The academic societies spend the most on labor, venue rental, food and beverage and other out-of-pocket costs, which were usually covered by the companies’ donation, advertisement fee and incidental expenses.

 

Regardless, from now on virtually formatted events would be more sought after as recently the conventional offline conferences have been restricted amid COVID-19 outbreak.

 

The shift in the format of local and international conferences would inevitably result in change in method of sponsorship.

 

The most mentioned method of sponsorship is virtually provided ‘e-booth.’ Already the pharmaceutical companies are inquiring their associated organization about the feasibility of sponsorship through e-booth and relevant method and level of contribution.

 

The Korean government and industry officials elaborated, under the code of Fair Competition Agreement set by the Fair Trade Commission, the healthcare product suppliers are supposed to receive approval on the academic conference sponsorship, but the details on online sponsorship is still ambiguous.

 

Meanwhile, MOHW, medical industry and pharmaceutical and medical device industry organization have recently established ‘Revised Academic Conference Sponsorship Standard’ to ban redundant sponsorship of providing donation and other advertisement fee and incidental expense.

 

In other words, the advertisement fee and incidental expense can be provided if the company does not give donation.

 

Medical academia “Confusion may get worse for the fall conferences without regulatory preparation” Academic societies struggling with offline conferences now fear the sluggish preparation of online event sponsorship regulation would eventually delay the fall conferences and cause turmoil.

 

Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KOSSO), for instance, is organizing an international conference in coming September.

 

But it is now greatly challenged with inviting foreign speakers.

 

The societies urge more attentions are also needed for international conference as well.

 

KOSSO official commented with concerned voice that “The government should acknowledge the online attendance and quickly establish regulation on virtual or video conference, or even consider temporarily alleviating related regulations,” if not, “the academic societies would experience confusion with the conference management until next year.” Korean Academy of Medical Sciences is having similar concerns.

 

The academy noted, “If the COVID-19 would continue to affect fall conferences, the academic societies would experience a massive confusion,” and “the societies are even considering on opening an option of ‘double booth.’ Also, we are expecting the government to allow banner and in-stream ads spots as well as sponsored product introduction time for the virtual conference.” Pharmaceutical industry “Needs to quickly work on long-term plan,” and Government “Newly revised regulation would be available next month” Regarding the situation, the pharmaceutical industry representatives firmly stated relevant regulation should be established as soon as possible, however, they should be constructed in efficient and reasonable fashion.

 

Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA) official said, “We are getting endless inquires from the member companies.

 

As sponsoring the academic conference is integral in sharing the latest developments and findings to healthcare professionals, it should be provided in any form or style,” and “the organization would closely cooperate on figuring out the feasible form of alternative sponsorship and appropriate level of the sponsorship.” Korean Research-based Pharmaceutical Industry Association (KRPIA) officials also stated, “We have task force discussing the matter in-depth.

 

The organization is closely collaborating with the government to stipulate operating virtual booth and to work on other essential details through the Fair Competition Agreement,” and “We expect the discussion to efficiently build the framework for alternative sponsorship that can minimize the impact of COVID-19 on academic activities.” Accordingly, the government, medical industry and supplier organizations have recently convened a meeting and agreed on the necessity of the online conference sponsorship regulation.

 

The meeting also concluded that another meeting should be convened early next month to finalize the amendment to the regulation.

 

MOHW official said, “Based on the prospective that Post-Corona Era would prefer holding local and international conferences virtually, everyone agreed online sponsorship like ‘e-booth’ should be deliberated.” The official added, “The details would be decided in next month’s meeting.

 

The alternative sponsorship would be sorted out promptly for the fall conference to utilize.”