Privacy Policy

sanofi-aventis respects the right of individuals to privacy and the confidentiality of information about individuals.

sanofi-aventis is bound by the National Privacy Principles ('Principles') contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (‘Privacy Act'). The Principles are designed to protect the confidentiality of personal information and the privacy of individuals by regulating the way personal information is managed by certain private sector organisations, including sanofi-aventis. In summary, the Principles define 'personal information' as information or an opinion relating to an individual that can be used to identify that individual.

This Policy does not apply to third party on-line resources to which sanofi-aventis’ web site or the Omnus web site might be linked where sanofi-aventis does not control the privacy practices of such resources. However, sanofi-aventis will endeavour to link to on-line resources that are known to abide by the Principles.

Why does sanofi-aventis collect personal information?

sanofi-aventis is a leading Australian pharmaceutical company and is part of the international Groupe sanofi-aventis. sanofi-aventis is in the business of researching, developing, manufacturing and marketing pharmaceutical products. As a matter of conducting its routine business, sanofi-aventis may collect the following types of personal (including health) information:

Consumers/Patients

sanofi-aventis obtains personal information from patients or members of the public, both in writing and through telephone inquiries. The type of information sanofi-aventis collects in this situation includes a person's name, address and contact details, and information relating to the inquiry. sanofi-aventis may also collect information about the patient or consumer's current and past medical status, such as medications being taken, the names of the patient’s doctors, medical procedures undergone and other information that is reasonably required to properly respond to an inquiry.

Collecting this personal information is necessary to enable sanofi-aventis to deal with the inquiry and may be necessary to allow us to meet any legal obligations.

On occasions, health professionals disclose personal and health information about patients to sanofi-aventis when it is considered necessary in relation to the treatment of a patient.

Patient Support and Information Programs

If a patient or consumer chooses to participate in a patient support or information program, this Privacy Policy, in particular, “Consumers/Patients” will apply. However, he or she will be provided with a consent form that includes a specific privacy statement for the program.  

Healthcare Professionals and Their Employees

sanofi-aventis collects personal information about healthcare professionals and their employees or assistants, such as doctors and pharmacists, who prescribe and dispense sanofi-aventis products, to enable it to deal with those health professionals.

Websites

When you look at www.sanofi-aventis.com.au or Omnus, the Internet Service Provider of our parent company located in France makes a record of your visit and logs the following information for statistical purposes:

• your server address
• your top level domain name (for example .com, .gov, .au, .uk etc)
• the pages you accessed and documents downloaded
• the previous site you have visited
• the type of browser you are using.

Sanofi-aventis will not make an attempt to identify users or their browsing activities. However, in the unlikely event of an investigation, a law enforcement agency or other government agency may exercise its legal authority to inspect our parent company’s Internet Service Provider's logs.

Sanofi-aventis will only record your e-mail address if you send us a message. Your e-mail address will only be used or disclosed for the purpose for which you have provided it and it will not be added to a mailing list or used or disclosed for any other purpose without your consent.

Information collected from clinical trials

At times patients 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 or investigator conducting the clinical trial.

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

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

Sanofi-aventis collects personal information about the doctors and investigators conducting clinical trials and people who assist them. In general, the type of information sanofi-aventis 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. Sanofi-aventis may use such information worldwide to pursue its business. In particular, sanofi-aventis is required to obtain comprehensive information about potential or actual investigators in order to maintain quality clinical trials and consistently meet global regulatory and compliance guidelines. Some of the information collected may be stored and used in the United States or other countries which are deemed to lack an adequate level of data protection in the sense of the European Community Directive on data protection (95/46/EC) dated 24 October 1995. However, sanofi-aventis will abide by the highest standards of data protection and privacy.

How does sanofi-aventis use personal information and to whom may sanofi-aventis disclose it?

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

In general, sanofi-aventis uses personal information for the following purposes:

• to promote and market sanofi-aventis' products and services;
• to provide health products or services (including advice) that have been requested;
• to involve doctors and investigators (and the people who assist them) in clinical trials; and
• to comply with legal obligations.

Sanofi-aventis discloses personal information to third parties, including its associated Companies, within or outside of Australia to help sanofi-aventis 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 sanofi-aventis who handle or obtain personal information as service providers to sanofi-aventis 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 sanofi-aventis has requested, sanofi-aventis may not be able to provide you with the relevant service or information required.

Sensitive information is subject to greater restrictions

Some personal information collected by sanofi-aventis is considered ‘sensitive’. Sensitive information which sanofi-aventis 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

Sanofi-aventis has appointed a Privacy Officer to oversee sanofi-aventis' management of personal information in accordance with this Policy and the Privacy Act.

All data that is collected is held electronically on password protected systems. Personal information is only accessible by persons that require access to that information to carry out their work. Sanofi-aventis 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 sanofi-aventis holds about you

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

Accessing personal information sanofi-aventis holds about you

You can, in most cases, access the personal information sanofi-aventis holds about you. If you wish to do so, please contact sanofi-aventis as set out below. Written requests are preferred.

What if you have an enquiry?

If you have questions about sanofi-aventis, its privacy practices or this Privacy Policy, wish to provide feedback about this Policy, would like to update your personal details held by sanofi-aventis or wish to access personal information held by sanofi-aventis about you, please contact sanofi-aventis using the contact details below. Sanofi-asanofi-aventis will endeavour to act promptly in response to a request.

How to contact us

The Privacy Officer
sanofi-aventis australia pty ltd
Building D, Talavera Corporate Centre, 12-24 Talavera Road
Macquarie Park NSW 2113
Phone: (02) 8666 2397
Facsimile: (02) 8666 3397
Email: