BRIARCLIFF MANOR, N.Y., April 19, 2010 — On April 19, 2010, the 6th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals (ISMPP) began in Arlington, VA, US, with a focus on delivering value and driving advocacy in medical publications. Mark B. McClellan, MD, PhD, Director, Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform, The Brookings Institution; Former Head, US FDA; Former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, opened the meeting with a special keynote address highlighting the importance, value, and relevance of medical publications in medical research and healthcare delivery.
In his speech, Dr. McClellan discussed the fact that "Medical publications are going to play an important role in identifying the effectiveness of medical treatments when compared to other options. As the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare reform intersect, it will impact how the medical publication process operates." As Dr. McClellan stressed, the field of professional medical publications is a rapidly evolving discipline as evidenced by the recent updating of guidelines (such as Good Publication Practice 2) and regulations that impact the development of medical publications across many specialties. Consequently, it is necessary for everyone involved in the dissemination of medical information to stay abreast of current standards.
In the media, controversies have surrounded medical publications and many misconceptions still exist today. The role of ethical, accurate, and peer-reviewed publications, and the many individuals involved in writing such publications, is often undervalued. The old specter of "ghost-writing" has undermined the legitimate role of professional medical publication experts and the importance of a robust, publications-driven evidence base for understanding the clinical and economic implications of healthcare interventions. In his speech, Dr. McClellan stated that he believed "The pharmaceutical industry has a role to play in the dissemination of data that will ultimately benefit patients, and the industry as a whole is working hard to ensure the ethical publication of clinical data that can improve patients' treatment and health."
The 6th Annual ISMPP Meeting has provided a forum for debate on the current controversies in the field of medical publications and provides a basis for greater understanding of the profession. More information about ISMPP, including a report from the meeting (which will be available after the event has concluded), can be found at http://www.ismpp.org.
About the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals: ISMPP is an independent, non-profit, professional association with members from the pharmaceutical, medical device, and biotechnology industries; publication planning and medical communication companies; academia; and medical journal staff, including editors and publishers. Its goals are to support the educational needs of publication professionals and to develop best practices that ensure the rigorous maintenance of all ethical standards for reporting results of medical research. Additional information about ISMPP is available by contacting the organization's Executive Director, Kimberly Goldin (phone: +1 914-945-0507; email: Email) or online at http://www.ismpp.org.
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