Code of Conduct

Continuing Education Program (CEP)

Mission Statement

“To educate medical representatives to a recognised industry standard in order to provide healthcare professionals with accurate, balanced information in an ethical manner that will enhance quality use of medicines.”

Medicines Australia’s Continuing Education Program (CEP) is designed to educate medical representatives to a recognised industry standard.

CEP is primarily directed at medical representatives working within the prescription medicines industry, but is also recommended to people who may not be currently employed within the industry but would like to pursue a career as a medical representative. It is also available to personnel working for organisations interacting with the pharmaceutical industry.

The CEP provides candidates with formal training to enhance their roles as medical representatives in the pharmaceutical industry. The course is tailored for adult learning and designed to provide flexibility for participants in full-time employment.

The CEP is currently offered online through the University of Tasmania’s Unit for Research and Medical Education (UMORE), which is housed in the University’s School of Pharmacy. See below under ‘Enrolment’ for more information.

A refresher course for candidates that have already completed Program One of the CEP has been developed to ensure they are up-to-date with changes to the Code of Conduct.

For more information regarding program content or for enrolment details, please visit the University of Tasmania’s CEP website. See also the Section on ‘Enrolment’ below.

Subjects

The Continuing Education Program contains six core programs, designed to guide medical representatives through the information, knowledge and skills required in the performance of their professional duties.

The core programs are:

  • The Medicines Australia Code of Conduct – ethical practices within the pharmaceutical industry, including the obligations and practices of companies in their relationship with the health care industry and the public;
  • The Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Industry – the historic development of the industry, government regulatory processes and the industry’s role in the Australian health care system;
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology – introductory anatomy, physiology, cellular life, tissues, defence mechanisms, and an overview of nine body systems. This program is a pre-requisite for ‘Introduction to Pharmacology’. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be available for this course for students who have relevant qualifications;
  • An Introduction to Pharmacology – pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, how drugs are administered, transported through the body and absorbed;
  • Understanding Product Information – an overview of the scientific, medical and therapeutic information contained in Product Information, including how the information is structured to comply with Therapeutic Goods Administration requirements; and
  • Understanding Clinical Evidence – a systematic approach to the analysis of published clinical papers, including how clinical trials are designed and conducted, and the four phases of clinical trials.

Enrolment

Students should create an account on the University of Tasmania’s iLearn Education Homepage: https://www.pharm.utas.edu.au/iLearn/ for students employed with a pharmaceutical company, please contact your Company CEP Coordinator for Enrolment Keys. Students who are not currently employed with a pharmaceutical company, should create a new user account and then contact the University of Tasmania to arrange program enrolment and payment.

Further details on the Program and enrolment processes can be found here: https://www.pharm.utas.edu.au/pdfs/MA/MA_Student_eNews_01_Jan_2012.pdf

Contact Details

Students employed with a pharmaceutical company should contact their Company CEP Coordinator in the first instance.

For all other enquiries, please contact:

University of Tasmania
Phone: 1300 305 228
Email: MedicinesAustralia.CEP@utas.edu.au 

Medicines Australia
Phone: (02) 6122 8500
Email: cep@medicinesaustralia.com.au

Key dates for the 2012 Academic Year

Semester 1

  • Enrolment Opens – 01/02/2012
  • Study Period Commences – 01/02/2012
  • Enrolment Closes – 02/05/2012
  • Last Day of Assessment – 08/06/2012
  • Semester Close – 08/06/2012
  • Results & Certification – 15/06/2012

 Semester 2

  • Enrolment Opens – 16/07/2012
  • Study Period Commences – 16/07/2012
  • Enrolment Closes – 17/10/2012
  • Last Day of Assessment – 23/11/2012
  • Semester Close – 23/11/2012
  • Results & Certification – 30/11/2012

 CEP Fees for 2012

  • MA Member Fee: $554.40 (GST inclusive)
  • MA Non-Member Fee: $788.70 (GST inclusive)

More Information

For more information regarding the program content, please contact the Medicines Australia Secretariat on (02) 6122 8500.

Page updated: February 2012