All staff of the Medicines Patent Pool, members of its Governance Board and members of its Expert Advisory Group must comply with the Whistleblower Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy (Conflict of interest declaration form), Private Investments Policy, Gifts Policy, and Code of Ethics.
The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) has no tolerance for acts of wrongdoing within the organisation or in any project in which it is involved.
A permanent hotline has been established to make it easier for anyone to come forward and report any concern they may have, anonymously. Full confidentiality is guaranteed for anyone using this reporting system.
All MPP stakeholders, including anyone working with a company with whom the MPP is negotiating or has signed an agreement, as well as MPP staff, Governance Board members, Expert Advisory Group members. All should report any wrongdoing occurring at the MPP workplace or in any project in which the MPP is involved.
In addition, anyone else who becomes aware of any wrongdoing is strongly encouraged to report it using this hotline.
The reporting hotline service is provided by Expolink, a professional, independent organisation with impartial staff trained to handle these types of reports.
You should use the hotline if you suspect that wrongdoing may have occurred or is occurring at the MPP workplace or in any project in which the MPP is involved.
The following list of examples is non-exhaustive:
- Personal use of money or other assets
- Fake invoicing
- Staging of fake training events
- Counterfeiting drugs
- Irregularities in tender processes (for example, fraudulent bids, bid collusion, bid manipulation, coercive practice…)
- Bribery and kickbacks
- Abuse of power or authority for personal gain
- Conflict of interest
The MPP understands that it can be difficult for you to bring sensitive workplace issues to its attention. It also recognises that giving you the opportunity to report your concerns to an independent organisation, whilst protecting your identity, may make it easier for you to speak up.
Through the Expolink anonymous hotline system, you can report concerns confidentially. Expolink is an independent service which can be reached free of charge and is available 24/7. Expolink’s impartial staff are trained to help you share potentially difficult or upsetting information, whilst also ensuring your identity remains protected.
To submit a report to Expolink, click on this link:
Please make your report as specific as possible. This will allow us to make sure your concerns are followed through appropriately. The information you wish to share should include the following, if possible:
- What is the type of wrongdoing you are reporting?
- Where and when did it take place?
- What happened exactly?
- Who was involved? Please share full name, title and office.
- Who else knows?
- Why do you think it should be investigated?
- Do you have any other relevant information?
Expolink is contractually forbidden to pass on any information to the Medicines Patent Pool without your permission. Confidentiality is very important to us. Whichever method you decide to use to contact Expolink, rest assured that you can remain totally anonymous if you wish.
We will not attempt to trace your details at any time, and should you volunteer your details they will not be passed to the MPP unless you give your consent to do so in your report.
Remember that the more information you provide, the more likely it is that the MPP can satisfactorily resolve the incident. This is particularly so if you have chosen to remain anonymous, as your report will only be reviewable if independent and substantiated data can corroborate the information you have shared.
Once you have completed your report, it will be sent to Expolink in an encrypted format. No cookie nor any other information is stored on your computer.
Once Expolink receives your report, the information you have given will be passed on to the Compliance Officer who will act on it without compromising you in any way. After submitting your report, you will be given a unique code which will allow you to call back with more information or follow-up if you wish. The Compliance Officer will always respect confidentiality and inform you of any next steps. The Compliance Officer will in the first instance consult only with the Chair of the Ethics and Compliance Committee and the Committee will decide on the best way to deal with the issue. Final decisions will be taken by the Governance Board of the MPP.
If you require guidance or fear retaliation, the Compliance Officer offers confidential and impartial advice and support on how to handle the situation. The Compliance Officer can be contacted through the following email address: compliance@medicinespatentpool.org.
Lenz & Staehelin, based Geneva, has been designated as the Compliance Officer of the MPP.
All ANONYMOUS reports should be made through Expolink, although you may also decide to disclose your identity. It will be up to you to decide.
