The Role of Speaker Program Technology

Navigating the High Stakes of Pharma Speaker Programs - Overview: The Role of Speaker Program Technology

In the healthcare landscape, speaker programs serve as vital platforms for the dissemination of knowledge about ground-breaking medical procedures, new drug therapies, and innovative medical devices. They play a pivotal role in enhancing patient care by sharing advances and improvements. But just as these programs are a beacon of medical progress, they have also found themselves under the stringent eye of regulators, making the deployment of a speaker management platform a practical and necessary move.Speaker programs, typically spearheaded by pharmaceutical companies and medical device managers, are designed to educate healthcare professionals (HCPs). But while these initiatives have a noble purpose, they can also be ripe grounds for misuse and regulatory breaches.

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) raised red flags on speaker programs in November 2020, labeling them as 'inherently risky'. The OIG highlighted several 'suspect characteristics' of speaker programs that could potentially flout the AKS and FCA, including: presentations lacking substance, events brimming with alcohol and expensive meals, hosting venues leaning more towards entertainment than education, repetitive topics, unreasoned attendee participation, speaker selections influenced by sales and marketing, and overpayment for speakers.

Adding to the growing scrutiny, high-profile cases like the $225 million settlement with opioid manufacturer Insys Therapeutics and the $642 million settlement with Novartis have shone a spotlight on the potential pitfalls of speaker programs. These settlements were precipitated by allegations of fraudulent activities surrounding speaker events, ranging from sham events to violations of the FCA.

With the mounting regulatory pressure and scrutiny, how can organizations keep their speaker programs both lawful and impactful? The answer lies in the realm of technology, with speaker program platforms emerging as a robust solution for tracking and monitoring.

In the complex world of speaker programs, marked by intricate logistics, meticulous planning, and strict compliance, technology steps in as a simplifying tool. Speaker program platform provides a centralized hub for all event details, making management more straightforward and transparent.

An efficient speaker program platform should be capable of compliance reporting, providing easy access to data about the event, such as HCP engagement, attendees, and costs. This helps identify potential risks and allows mitigation in line with regulatory guidelines.

In addition to this, it's crucial to have a system for managing speakers that securely captures and stores profile information and product usage. The platform should provide an avenue for speakers and Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) to access approved decks, training materials, and other resources.

And last but not least, the speaker program platform should excel in event management. This includes features like managing and tracking attendees, coordinating event planning tasks, and ensuring seamless integrations with other HCP tools and databases for accurate reporting.

Despite the trials and tribulations, speaker programs can still function as a conduit for education and information dissemination. As organizations anticipate the resurgence of in-person events post-COVID, it's more important than ever to equip themselves with a robust speaker program platform. The potential financial and reputational risks of non-compliance make this a step that organizations simply cannot afford to overlook. Discover the potential of speaker program platform for your organization today and mitigate the risks of tomorrow.