Code against conflict of interest in science

On the initiative of several leading health and science institutes, including the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, a code for coping with conflicts of interest in science has been prepared.

This code was presented to Minister of Health Schippers. "An important step towards trust," the minister gave in response. The minister will soon send the presented code to Parliament, where the debate about conflicts of interest has often served.

According to the authors of the code science benefits from collaboration with industry, government and social institutions. But by working closely scientists may face conflicts of interest. Everyone has interests, recognize the organizations that have signed the code. But instead of denying interest these should be visible and controllable according to the code.

More than 30 organizations have already signed the code. Besides the Academy these include, the Royal Dutch Medical Association (KNMG), the Health Council of the Netherlands, Dutch Institute for Healthcare Improvement (CBO), the Dutch College of General Practitioners (NHG) and the Order of Medical Specialists (OMS).

More information
See the Code (Code ter voorkoming van oneigenlijke beïnvloeding door belangenverstrengeling) for more information, the PDF is in Dutch.