Data in the pharmaceutical industry: experts speak out!

Over the past few weeks, Faks has been gathering expert opinions from various players in the pharmaceutical sector.
They agreed to answer our questions on the thorny subject of DATA!

Nicolas BUGLIO / Chairman of the Offisanté panel

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Can you explain what a panelist is and what his role is? 

"The role of a panelist is to concentrate the data of panel members and erase any differences linked to their particularity."

RGPD and data protection in your daily life?

"At Offisanté, we go beyond the barrier: we treat all data (inventory and health data) with the same rigor and in the same way."

What can you tell us about pharmacy data storage and security at Offisanté?

"Data is hosted in France by HBS. There are regular security checks and a separation of rights within the teams.
This complicates developments and projects because of the access separations. There's a technical, regulatory and contractual part, and a trust part."

Do you think that pharmacies are mature enough to protect their data?

"Over the last few years, pharmacists' knowledge and maturity of the subject and the rules have remained very low, but their level of sensitivity has become very high.
They have a very strong interest in protecting their data; we receive a lot of calls via our support service on this subject, and we do our best to help our customers find their way around and document themselves by making guides available."

How do you see the pharmaceutical industry in a few years' time in the face of digitalization?

"There's a new generation of pharmacists who are more comfortable with IT, and that's going to change things. There is now a constant focus on ergonomics and the ease of use of new tools.

We need to move from a world where you have to learn how to use new technologies to a world where it's intuitive and there's no need for training, to make change easier and quicker to accept.

More has happened in the last 4 years than in the previous 10 on this subject.

We're off! "

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Aura Braun / Health law and data protection lawyer

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What laws do laboratories and panelists have to comply with to protect their customers' data?

"Laboratories and panelists are subject to the General Regulation on the Protection of Personal Data of April 27, 2016.
Its entry into force on May 25, 2018 requires players to comply with its principles for the protection of personal data i.e. any data relating to an identified or identifiable natural person, directly or indirectly .

It is also important to note that when it comes to protecting health data, which is particularly sensitive data, certain provisions of the Public Health Code apply, as well as recommendations from the CNIL, the competent authority."

Do the various players comply with the law?

"Since the Regulation has been directly applicable since it came into force, these regulations must be complied with by the various players. The RGPD is based on accountability. Also, although there are no longer any prior formalities ensuring compliance with the regulations by the players concerned, the CNIL is empowered to carry out a posteriori checks and issue sanctions."

Are pharmacies aware of everything we can do with their data?

"Pharmacists are organized around a Conseil National de l'Ordre des Pharmaciens, which shares important information on the nature of data that can be shared by pharmacists, in compliance with the principles of personal data protection, as well as their legal obligations under the public health code."

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Pharmacy X

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How is patient data stored and secured in your pharmacy?

"The data is secure thanks to the IT intermediary LGPI for my pharmacy, they are supposed to protect our data.

I'm careful because there's the RGPD, everything has happened very quickly. We all have to be up to standard. Customer data information remains a professional secret."

Do laboratories inform you about the processing and confidentiality of your data?

"The laboratories don't, but everyone is more or less informed. Initially, everyone was informed that there was protection, it was general. The laboratories don't have access to our data."

Are you comfortable with the idea of transmitting your information to an external entity (laboratory, panelist, etc.)?

"I don't transmit information at the patient level. They're not connected. Sales statistics only are collected every month, but that doesn't touch customer data."

Are you satisfied with the service provided by your panellist? Do you know how your data is processed?

"It's opaque...data is transmitted every month for statistical purposes. However, this does not concern customers. (professional secrecy)"
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