Australia Takes Center Stage in the Global Debate Over Life Sciences Transparency: Legislation vs. Self Regulation

By D. Jeffrey Campbell and Brian P. Sharkey

"There’s nothing like Australia." So states the country’s official tourism website. But, ironically, that motto also applies to the debate over transparency in the relationships between life sciences companies and healthcare professionals. This debate is rapidly becoming a global contest fought out in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. While some countries have adopted legislatively-imposed reporting requirements, others rely on requirements created by industry associations.