Trainees must develop skills in the use of pharmaceuticals and this will involve relationships with members of the pharmaceutical industry. Areas include monitoring and reporting adverse reactions; appropriate participation in research trials of drugs; participation in post-market surveillance of the drugs; and keeping up to date with scientific developments including information about new and existing medications.

It is important to recognise not only the value of information gathered from the pharmaceutical industry, but also that the trainee may be the target of advertising and promotional activities that may appeal to emotions and tap into personal values and biases.

The College has developed guidelines beneficial to both trainee and the industry, which should help trainees steer a course that optimises patient care. The 1994 version is currently being revised but important elements include:

• not deriving direct personal or financial benefit from the conduct of a pharmaceutical industry sponsored trial whilst being adequately compensated for income or time lost as part of a formal contractual agreement;
• avoiding receiving pharmaceutical company sponsorship to attend a meeting that the trainee is not directly contributing to (e.g. speaking, presenting a poster);
• not accepting sponsorship for a spouse/partner to attend a meeting;
• not accepting gifts of substantial value, including lavish meals and entertainment;
• appropriately disclosing any consultancy fees from or shares in the pharmaceutical industry.

Where issues are not clear, (despite referring to the relevant section in the guidelines), the trainee should discuss the situation with their supervisor or mentor. A useful litmus test is to ask "Would I feel comfortable with this arrangement being prominently published and read by the general public, my peers and patients?"

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