Ethical Procurement Practices – Standard Operating Procedure
1) Purpose
To establish guidelines for maintaining ethical standards in all procurement activities within the pharmaceutical purchase department, ensuring integrity, fairness, and transparency.
2) Scope
This SOP applies to all procurement personnel and processes within the pharmaceutical purchase department.
3) Responsibilities
Procurement Manager: Responsible for overseeing and ensuring adherence to ethical procurement practices.
Procurement Team: Responsible for conducting procurement activities in an ethical manner, avoiding conflicts of interest and unethical behavior.
4) Procedure
4.1) Ethical Standards and Principles:
4.1.1) Adhere to the highest standards of integrity, honesty, and transparency in all procurement activities.
4.1.2) Ensure fair competition by providing equal opportunities to all potential suppliers.
4.2) Avoiding Conflicts of Interest:
4.2.1) Disclose any personal or financial interests that may conflict with professional duties.
4.2.2) Refrain from participating in procurement decisions where a conflict of interest exists.
4.3) Anti-Bribery and Corruption:
4.3.1) Reject any form of bribery or corruption, including accepting or offering gifts, favors, or undue advantages.
4.3.2) Report any suspected instances of bribery or corruption to the appropriate authorities.
4.4) Supplier Relations:
4.4.1) Treat all suppliers with respect and fairness, ensuring transparent and honest communication.
4.4.2) Avoid favoritism and ensure that procurement decisions are based solely on objective criteria such as quality, price, and service.
4.5) Confidentiality:
4.5.1) Protect the confidentiality of all procurement-related information and supplier data.
4.5.2) Ensure that confidential information is only used for its intended purpose and not disclosed to unauthorized parties.
4.6) Training and Awareness:
4.6.1) Provide regular training to procurement personnel on ethical standards and practices.
4.6.2) Promote awareness of ethical issues and the importance of ethical behavior in procurement.
4.7) Monitoring and Enforcement:
4.7.1) Implement mechanisms to monitor compliance with ethical procurement practices.
4.7.2) Take disciplinary action against any procurement personnel found violating ethical standards.
5) Abbreviations, if any
N/A
6) Documents, if any
- Code of Ethics
- Conflict of Interest Disclosure Forms
- Training Materials on Ethical Procurement
- Monitoring and Audit Reports
7) Reference, if any
Regulatory Guidelines: FCPA, UK Bribery Act
Industry Standards: ISO 20400:2017
8) SOP Version
Version 1.0