Privacy policy

Privacy at AstraZeneca

AstraZeneca is a leading supplier of prescription pharmaceuticals in Australia. The AstraZeneca Group is engaged in the research, development, manufacture and marketing of prescription pharmaceuticals and the supply of health care services both in Australia and throughout the world.

AstraZeneca is bound by the Privacy Principles ('Principles') contained in the Commonwealth Privacy Act and the NSW Health Records and Information Privacy Act . The Principles define 'personal information ' as information or an opinion relating to an individual which can be used to identify that individual, and are designed to protect the confidentiality of personal information and the privacy of individuals by regulating the way personal information is managed.

In the AstraZeneca privacy policy, a reference to “information” or “personal information” is a reference to both personal information and health information.

Why does AstraZeneca collect personal information?

It is necessary for AstraZeneca to collect personal information for many aspects of its activities, including as follows:

Consumers/Patients

AstraZeneca may obtain personal information from patients or members of the public, both in writing and through telephone inquiries. The type of information AstraZeneca collects in this situation includes a person's name, address and contact details, and information relating to the inquiry. Collecting this personal information may be necessary to allow us to meet our legal obligations.

Healthcare Professionals and their employees

AstraZeneca collects personal information about healthcare professionals such as doctors and pharmacists who prescribe and dispense AstraZeneca products so we can deal with them.

AstraZeneca may collect personal information about the doctors/investigators conducting clinical trials and people who assist them. In general, the type of information AstraZeneca collects includes the name, address, telephone details, field of expertise, position, role in study and qualifications and includes information provided on Curricula Vitae and Financial Disclosure Forms.

Employees

AstraZeneca is not bound by the National Privacy Principles in relation to AstraZeneca's treatment of an employee record, if the treatment is directly related to the current or former employment relationship between AstraZeneca and the employee.

Information collected from clinical trials

Patients may participate in clinical trials of pharmaceutical products in order to further research and development of certain drugs or health services. In doing so, patients may provide personal information to the doctor/investigator conducting the clinical trial.

However, personal information collected by doctors/investigators conducting clinical trials is not generally provided to AstraZeneca. AstraZeneca receives the information relating to a clinical trial patient's health and pharmaceutical needs but in de-identified form. Personal information such as the patient's name and address is not provided to AstraZeneca.

On occasions people employed by AstraZeneca, or contractors working on behalf of AstraZeneca may access this personal information at the source of collection, but only for the purpose of verifying data.

How does AstraZeneca use personal information and to whom may AstraZeneca disclose it?

The Principles generally require AstraZeneca to use personal information only for the primary purpose for which it is collected, or for secondary purposes which are related to the primary purpose.

In general, AstraZeneca uses personal information for the following purposes:

• to provide ongoing information about AstraZeneca's products and services to people that AstraZeneca believes may be interested;
• to provide health products or services (including advice) that have been requested;
• to involve doctors/investigators (and the people who assist them) in clinical trials in accordance with Good Clinical Practice and regulatory requirements; and
• to comply with legal obligations.

AstraZeneca may disclose personal information to third parties within or outside of Australia to help AstraZeneca improve its pharmaceutical products and health services. Information may also be disclosed to regulatory authorities and ethics committees as part of a clinical trial evaluation, monitoring or inspection process.

Generally, we require that organisations outside AstraZeneca who handle or obtain personal information as service providers to AstraZeneca acknowledge the confidentiality of this information, undertake to respect an individual’s right to privacy and comply with the National Privacy Principles and this Policy.

In most cases, if you do not provide information about yourself which AstraZeneca has requested, AstraZeneca may not be able to provide you with the relevant service or information required.

Some personal information collected by AstraZeneca is considered ‘sensitive’. Sensitive information which AstraZeneca may collect includes a person’s state of health and medical history.

The Principles require that sensitive information is used and disclosed only for the purposes for which it was provided, or a directly related secondary purpose, unless you agree otherwise or for other specific reasons such as if the use or disclosure of this information is required by law or to prevent a serious and imminent threat to life or health of an individual.

Management and security of personal information

AstraZeneca has appointed a Privacy Officer to oversee AstraZeneca's management of personal information in accordance with this Policy and the Commonwealth Privacy Act.

AstraZeneca has directed its staff that personal information must be dealt with in accordance with this Policy and kept secure from unauthorised access or disclosure.

Updating personal information that AstraZeneca holds about you

AstraZeneca endeavours to ensure that the personal information it holds is accurate, complete and up-to-date. Please contact AstraZeneca if you believe that the information AstraZeneca holds about you requires changing or becomes out-of-date. AstraZeneca's contact details are set out below.

Accessing personal information AstraZeneca holds about you

You can, in most cases, access the personal information AstraZeneca holds about you. A $50 fee will apply to searching for and providing access to personal information. Requests for access must be made in writing to AstraZeneca at the address set out below. AstraZeneca will endeavour to process requests for access within 28 days of receipt of the request in writing. In certain circumstances.AstraZeneca is entitled to deny access. If access is denied, reasons for the denial of access will be given in writing.

What if you have an enquiry?

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or AstraZeneca's privacy practices please contact the AstraZeneca Privacy Officer (contact details below). AstraZeneca will endeavour to act promptly in response to a request.

How to contact us

If you have questions about AstraZeneca and privacy, wish to provide feedback about this policy, would like to update your personal details held by AstraZeneca or wish to access information held by AstraZeneca about you, please contact AstraZeneca at:
Phone: (02)9978 3500
Facsimile: (02) 9978 3774

Postal address:

The Privacy Officer
AstraZeneca Pty Ltd
PO Box 131
NORTH RYDE NSW 2113