This is the legal wording coming from article 10 of the Law on medicinal products.

Two situations are concerned:

  • The scientific programme of the event takes place over several consecutive calendar days. Ex.: it commences on day A and finishes on day B (regardless of the actual duration of the sponsored professional’s participation: see FAQ 3.2).
  • The scientific programme of the event takes place on one single day (or less) but requires an overnight stay as the event takes place abroad. Ex.: an event commences in Paris at 8.00am and finishes at 4.00pm. Participants must arrive the night before in order to be punctual for the start of the event. The event as a whole therefore takes place over several consecutive calendar days, even though the programme lasts for less than one day.

Yes, a visa is required as the programme alone already takes place over more than one consecutive calendar day.

If a company organises a scientific meeting lasting less than a day where only a dinner and/or a lunch is being offered and that is taking place abroad because of a congress at the same time to which all the invited healthcare professionals are participating, then no visa is required if:

  • it lasts less than a day,
  • it has nothing to do with the congress taking place at the same venue and its agenda and invitation were set and sent out in advance (this is prior to the congress taking place at the same time),
  • it concerns an international public,
  • only a meal is being offered.

Please note: in that case, Circular No. 622bis of the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products has to be respected.

If, on the other hand, it concerns the sponsoring of only meals during a congress, see FAQ 8.4.

Sponsorship may only be granted or offered to the healthcare professional in question after the Mdeon visa has been granted.

This means that the company may make internal practical preparations prior to obtaining the visa, such as pre-booking or reserving flights, hotel rooms, or other logistical arrangements, provided that these are not transferred or definitively allocated to the healthcare professionals before the visa decision is made, nor in the event of a negative decision.

Every company must have internal procedures that clearly describe:

  • How to submit the visa application;
  • Which department or person is responsible for the application;
  • How Mdeon’s decision—whether positive or negative—should be communicated to the healthcare professional.