Do You Need to Be a Compliance Expert to Win Healthcare Meetings?

According to Jenny Ennis, Meetings and Events Director from the International Society of Nephrology (ISN), and a member of the ICCA Association Advisory Council: 

“It is not necessary to be an expert - global pharmaceutical compliance is complex - but if a venue understands the big picture on why it is so important to most medical associations, this is very reassuring. Being able to talk the talk on who gets access to the exhibition floor, where scientific posters can and cannot be positioned and appropriate hospitality for healthcare professionals quickly builds trust and demonstrates a real commitment to healthcare meetings”. 

ICCA partners with the International Pharmaceutical Congress Advisory Association (IPCAA) and we were delighted to share the ICCA Member perspective at their Compliance Seminar in January. Carina Montagut, ICCA Venues Sector Board Member: 

“Many venues and destinations see pharmaceutical compliance as a challenge, but what’s really important to understand is just how complex and time-consuming it is for associations. They’re not only dealing with global compliance frameworks from pharma companies, but also with internal rules and preferences from key sponsors about where they can—or can’t—go, on top of different national regulations in every country. My message at the ICCA session was simple: talk to us about how we can help, and don’t assume a destination/ venue won’t work. Many places that are often seen as purely tourist destinations actually have very strong and sophisticated healthcare ecosystems“. 

Compliance is an evergreen topic for most healthcare associations. Responding to associations needs, ICCA will be launching an Association Pharmaceutical Compliance Masterclass (APCM) in December 2026, hosted by Düsseldorf Convention and Congress Center Düsseldorf. 

Pharmaceutical compliance will also be a topic for Members at the ICCA Venue Sector Meeting at IMEX Frankfurt, Monday, 18 May, 13:15-14:15. Navigating Pharmaceutical Compliance in International Healthcare Meetings. Brian Carey Conference Manager, from the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, will join to give the association perspective.