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PVN-MI Publications
2024 Framework For the Digital Provision of Medical Information in Canada
Canadian pharmaceutical companies offer Medical Information (MI) services to support healthcare professionals (HCPs) and patients. The growing preference for digital channels is hindered by the absence of a comprehensive compliance framework in Canada for digital MI services. Meanwhile, a vast amount of unregulated information exists online. To address this the Pharmacovigilance and Medical Information Network (PVN-MI) has developed a principles framework adapted from the MILE framework to assist companies in delivering digital MI services effectively. Stakeholders are encouraged to collaborate in refining this framework.
Canadian Medical Information Guidelines
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High quality, balanced, and up-to-date information about medicines is essential for their safe and effective use in treating patients. Pharmaceutical companies’ Medical Information departments are a leading source for such information and should be viewed as one of the most reliable sources for medical information on their products. The Medical information department is a customer-facing team that helps improve the safe and effective use of a company’s products by providing accurate, fair-balanced, and timely information to healthcare professionals and patients. ​
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Appreciating the need for high standards in the provision of medical information in Canada, a working group within the PVN-MI Network – Canada has developed guidelines, with the intent that pharmaceutical companies across Canada adhere to the spirit of these guidelines as they pertain to the role of medical information.
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2022 Canadian Medical Information Benchmarking Survey
Background: In 2021, the PVN MI network hosted two workshops on Medical Information in Canada and initiated a Canadian Medical Information Benchmark Survey to clarify the inquiry management landscape. A volunteer subgroup of pharmaceutical professionals was formed in December 2021 to develop the survey. The final version was circulated in March 2022 during the COVID19 pandemic. The survey included 25 questions on HCP and patient requests, medical information websites, and awareness initiatives, focusing on 2021 metrics.
Seventeen Canadian companies participated, achieving a 100% response rate.
Survey Objectives:
- Determine contact frequency for medical information by HCPs and patients
- Evaluate inquiry channels available in Canada
- Ascertain HCP access to medical information websites
- Measure usage of channels by HCPs and patients in Canada
Canadian Medical Information Benchmarking Survey: MILE Framework for Digital Provision of Medical Information for Healthcare Professionals
Rizos J, Noué MA, Quinn D. Collaborating as Industry to Improve HCP Access to Medical Information. PVN-MI Network. 2021 Sep
Medical Information (MI) departments provide scientific data to healthcare professionals (HCPs). In 2022, the PVN-MI Canada conducted a survey to understand how HCPs access medical information, finding that over 90% of requests came through traditional channels, while MI websites saw minimal use due to registration processes. This limits easy access to crucial information, affecting patient safety and decision-making. Strategies to enhance the accessibility and usage of MI websites are being explored, and future surveys are planned to assess the impact of these changes and the role of AI in HCP engagement. This study was published in the Nov2023 issue of the DIA global forum.