The pharmaceutical industry recognises that it has many common interests with patient organisations, which represent and/or support the needs of patients and/or caregivers. In order to ensure that relationships between the pharmaceutical industry and patient organisations take place in an ethical and transparent manner, EFPIA has adopted the EFPIA Code of Practice on Relationships between the Pharmaceutical Industry and Patient Organisations.

 The FORUM encourages competition among pharmaceutical companies. The FORUM Code is not intended to restrain the promotion of medicinal products in a manner that is detrimental to fair competition. Instead, it seeks to ensure that pharmaceutical companies conduct such promotion in a truthful manner, avoiding deceptive practices and potential conflicts of interest with healthcare professionals, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The FORUM Code thereby aims to foster an environment where the general public can be confident that choices regarding their medicines are being made on the basis of the merits of each product and the healthcare needs of patients.