The HCA Good Practice Guide (GPG), launched in May 2007, is a feature of membership, available free of charge to all staff of HCA member organisations. 

The GPG currently cover working with the media, with new information being added on an ongoing basis. 

Further chapters are in development and members will be informed when these become available.

HCA GPG on Working with the Media

This online tool has been designed to help HCA members address the questions and practical issues that arise during everyday media activities.

The HCA recognises the importance of ensuring the highest standards are maintained amongst healthcare communications professionals.  Following the launch of the revised Code of Practice of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), HCA members indicated that there was a particular need for clarification and practical guidance on areas specific to working with the media.

The GPG has been designed as a point of reference for HCA members and pulls together sections of relevant codes, whilst providing specific HCA recommendations on the implications for various different types of media-related activities.  It also provides links to relevant rulings by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA).

The online GPG is a flexible and user-friendly tool which will serve to support and protect the reputation of the pharmaceutical industry and help to maintain confidence in industry self-regulation. 

The HCA GPG on Working with the Media is supported by training modules.

Getting started...

As a member, the GPG is available to all staff who are registered for members-only section of the website.  For new visitors to the HCA website, registration only takes a few seconds - all you need to do is click on the 'REGISTER NOW' button in the 'Member Login' box on the home page, and select your company from the drop down list and provide your name and email address.

If you have already registered with the HCA website, then simply log in with your email address and password.

Once in the members-only section, click on the 'HCA Good Practice Guide' button on the left hand navigation bar.