Starting in March 2025, Brazilian doctors will need to disclose their professional relationships with pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. The new resolution, approved by the Conselho Federal de Medicina (CFM), requires doctors to declare services such as paid lectures, research, and product endorsements. They must report these services within 60 days of receiving payment, and the information will be publicly accessible.

This change follows a global trend of increasing transparency in the healthcare industry. For example, in the United States, the Sunshine Act requires manufacturers of drugs and medical devices to report payments exceeding US$10 made to physicians and other healthcare providers.

The goal of this new requirement is to prevent conflicts of interest that could influence medical decisions. Imagine visiting a doctor, receiving a prescription, and later discovering that the doctor was paid by the medication’s manufacturer. This scenario could raise questions about whether the prescription was truly in your best interest or driven by monetary incentives.

The resolution aims to set a higher standard for accountability within the medical profession by reducing the influence of financial relationships on medical decisions. It promotes transparency and seeks to create an environment where patients can trust that their care is based solely on their doctor’s medical judgment.

This represents a major shift in Brazil, where financial ties between doctors and the healthcare industry have often been hidden from public view. As Brazil holds medical professionals to these new standards, it underscores the importance of transparency in building patient trust.