The new rules clarify how pharmaceutical, medtech, biotech and diagnostics companies may interact with healthcare staff, with changes covering sponsorship of meetings, consultancy assignments, scholarships, documentation requirements, development projects and patient‑support programmes, according to a summary of updates published by Lif and a legal briefing from Setterwalls.

“It is absolutely crucial that we continue to safeguard the close collaboration that exists today between healthcare and industry. It is positive that the rules have in some respects been simplified to facilitate collaboration,” says Emelie Antoni, Chair of Lif – the Research-Based Pharmaceutical Companies.

The purpose is to increase transparency and legal certainty while still enabling necessary collaboration to develop and provide high‑quality care, according to statements from SKR and the industry organisations. Legal commentators note that the updated framework is particularly important for companies planning clinical trials, real‑world evidence projects and educational activities, since clearer and more harmonised rules across regions are expected to shorten lead times for setting up projects and reduce compliance risk, according to an analysis from Setterwalls.