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Privacy Policy Statement
IQVIA (NYSE: Q) helps biopharmaceutical companies and other healthcare companies improve their probability of success by connecting insights from our deep scientific, therapeutic and analytics expertise with superior delivery for better outcomes. From advisory through operations, IQVIA is the world’s largest provider of product development and integrated healthcare services, including commercial and observational solutions. IQVIA has approximately 32,000 employees, conducting operations in approximately 100 countries, IQVIA is a member of the FORTUNE 500 and has been named to FORTUNE’s list of the “World’s Most Admired Companies.”
IQVIA and our subsidiaries and affiliates (collectively referred to as “IQVIA”, “Company”, “we” or “our”) respect the relationships we have with our customers and respect the privacy of employees, patients, healthcare providers, consumers, our business partners and others whose Personal Information (see Definitions) may be processed by IQVIA in the performance of our services, including individuals participating in clinical research studies. IQVIA provides an adequate level of protection with respect to transfer of personal data out of the European and Switzerland to other countries for the performances of our services and business operations. To meet the adequacy requirement with respect to these transfers, IQVIA uses model contractual clauses and other mechanisms approved by the European Union for such transfers. In addition, IQVIA is certified to the Federal Trade Commission’s Safe Harbor program. Further details of this Program can be found on the website at https://safeharbor.export.gov/list.aspx.
IQVIA intends that its corporate privacy policy and standard practices and procedures will ensure timely compliance with all international privacy laws and regulations, including, for example, the European Union, Canada, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and United States, as applicable. To monitor implementation of the Company's global policy for the protection of individually identifiable information, IQVIA has chartered the Council on Data Protection (CODP), which serves as IQVIA’ “privacy office” and internal privacy board. The CODP includes members and advisors from a representative cross-section of operations and across global geographies and lines of business, including IQVIA’ Global Chief Privacy Officer, the Head of European Data Protection, and the Global IT Security Officer. In addition, the CODP is charged with monitoring IQVIA’ compliance with applicable data protection laws and regulations. The CODP also functions as IQVIA’ privacy inquiry office and has established the Privacy Incident Response Team (PIRT) to receive, investigate, track and guide resolution of any incidents / complaints that IQVIA may receive or identify regarding data privacy. Further, the CODP has established an ongoing privacy awareness training program which is required globally for all IQVIA employees.
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IQVIA’ Privacy Policy sets forth the privacy principles that IQVIA follows in connection with the transfer of Personal Information from the EU and Switzerland to the U.S. IQVIA values the confidence of its customers and respects individual privacy, including Personal Information of employees, consumers, healthcare professionals, patients, medical research subjects, clinical investigators, customers, business partners and investors. Not only does IQVIA strive to collect, use and disclose Personal Information in a manner consistent with the laws of the countries in which it does business, but it also has a tradition of upholding recognized ethical standards in its business practices.
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IQVIA SAFE HARBOR PRIVACY POLICY (THE “POLICY”):
SCOPE: This Policy applies to all Personal Information, either in electronic or paper format, received by IQVIA in the U.S. from the EU or Switzerland, including Personal Information relating to investigators or participants in clinical trials where IQVIA provides services to customers as a Contract Research Organization (“CRO”).
LIMITATIONS ON SCOPE: Adherence to this Policy may be limited to the extent required to meet a legal, regulatory, governmental, national security or public interest obligation. Also, this Policy may not apply or may be limited when Personal Information is obtained by IQVIA or its subsidiaries:
- Under an agreement that contains the requisite Model Contract Clauses approved by the European Commission with respect to the Personal Information; or
- When necessary for the performance of a contract (e.g., an employment contract) between an Individual and IQVIA.
DEFINITIONS: For purposes of this Policy, the following definitions shall apply:
“Agent” means any third party that uses Personal Information provided to it by IQVIA to perform tasks on behalf of and under the instructions of IQVIA.
“Individual” means any natural person located in the European Union or Switzerland whose Personal Information is shared with IQVIA in the United States.
“IQVIA” means IQVIA Transnational Corp., its affiliates, successors, subsidiaries, divisions and groups in the United States.
“Personal Information” means any information or set of information that identifies or could be used by or on behalf of IQVIA to identify an Individual. Personal Information does not include information that is anonymized such that an Individual cannot be identified.
“Sensitive Personal Information” means Personal Information that reveals race, ethnic origin, political opinions, religious or philosophical beliefs, or trade union membership, or that concerns health or personal sexuality. In addition, IQVIA will treat as Sensitive Personal Information any information received from a third party where that third party treats and identifies the information as sensitive.
“European Union (EU)” means for the purposes of this Policy all countries within the European Economic Area (EEA).
“European Union Data Protection Directive” means Directive 95/46/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 October 1995 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data.
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NOTICE: Where IQVIA collects Personal Information directly from Individuals, it will explain the purposes for which it collects and uses Personal Information about the Individuals, the types of non-agent third parties to which IQVIA discloses that information, and the choices and means, if any, IQVIA offers Individuals for limiting the use and disclosure of Personal Information about them. This explanation will be provided as soon as practicable and, in any event, before IQVIA uses the information for a purpose other than that for which it was originally obtained. Where IQVIA receives Personal Information from its subsidiaries, affiliates or other entities, including when acting as a CRO processing Personal Information under the direction of a customer, it will use such information in accordance with the notices provided by such entities and the choices made by the Individuals to whom such Personal Information relates. IQVIA may not need to furnish notice where the processing in question is necessary to respond to a government inquiry; is required / authorized by applicable laws, court orders or government regulations; or is necessary to protect IQVIA’ legal interests and providing notice would interfere with the above requirements.
- Purpose of Collection and Use of Personal Information: For Individuals participating as subjects, clinical investigators or other study personnel in research studies being managed by IQVIA as a CRO, Personal Information may be used in order to carry out the applicable studies and other study-related services. This may include the transfer of such Personal Information to the applicable study sponsor, business partners and third party service providers performing services related to the study (e.g., study data management, clinical research monitoring services, etc.). IQVIA may also use the Personal Information to comply with our legal obligations, policies and procedures and for internal administrative purposes.
- For Individuals who are employees or potential employees of IQVIA, we will process Personal Information to carry out and support our human resources functions and activities, administer employee participation in benefits, compensation and human resources plans and programs, manage employee performance, implement, investigate and report on compliance and discipline procedures and matters, and comply with our legal obligations, policies and procedures.
- For Individuals sharing Personal Information with IQVIA in order to inquire about or otherwise make use of our services, we will use such Personal Information in order to provide the requested information, products, and/or services. Such uses may include processing requested transactions, improving the quality of our services, sending communications about our products and services, enabling our business partners and service providers to perform certain activities on our behalf and complying with our legal obligations, policies and procedures and for other internal administrative purposes.
ONWARD TRANSFERS: Transfers to third parties are covered by the provisions in this Policy regarding notice and choice. IQVIA may also share an Individual's Personal Information with Agents, contractors or partners of IQVIA in connection with services that these individuals or entities perform for, or with, IQVIA. IQVIA may, for example, provide an Individual's Personal Information to Agents, contractors or partners for hosting our databases, for data processing services, or to send to that Individual the information that he or she requested. IQVIA will obtain assurances from these third parties that they will safeguard Personal Information consistently with this Policy. Examples of appropriate assurances that may be provided include model contracts from the European Union. Where IQVIA knows that an Agent, contractor, vendor, or partner is using or disclosing Personal Information in a manner contrary to this Policy, IQVIA will take reasonable steps to prevent or stop the use or disclosure.
ACCESS AND CORRECTION: Upon request, and as required by law, IQVIA will provide Individuals with reasonable access to the Personal Information that IQVIA holds about them, subject to permitted exemptions. In addition, upon request, IQVIA will take reasonable steps to provide Individuals with a means to correct, amend, or delete Personal Information that is found to be inaccurate or incomplete. IQVIA when acting as a CRO has no direct relationship with participants in a clinical trial and any such Individuals who seek access, or who seek to correct, amend, or delete their inaccurate Personal Information should direct his or her query to the relevant study sponsor or investigator which has transferred such Personal Information to IQVIA for processing.
SECURITY: IQVIA will employ reasonable technical, administrative and physical safeguards to protect Personal Information in its possession from loss, misuse and unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and destruction. When IQVIA is acting as a CRO and processing Personal Information as an Agent under the direction of its customers, IQVIA enters into a contract with such customers specifying the conditions under which Personal Information received from the EU and/or Switzerland are to be processed and kept secure.
DATA INTEGRITY: IQVIA will use Personal Information only in ways that are compatible with the purposes for which it was collected or subsequently authorized by the Individual. IQVIA will take reasonable steps to ensure that Personal Information is relevant to its intended use, accurate, complete, current, and otherwise reliable in relation to the purposes for which the information was obtained. IQVIA’ employees have a responsibility to assist IQVIA in maintaining accurate, complete and current Personal Information. When acting as a CRO, IQVIA only processes Personal Information that is relevant to the services it provides, and only for purposes compatible with those for which the Personal Information was collected. As an Agent processing Personal Information as a CRO under the direction of its customers, IQVIA works with such customers so that the customers can provide a way for Individuals to correct their Personal Information.
ENFORCEMENT: IQVIA’ internal privacy board, the Council on Data Protection (CODP), has implemented internal, self-assessment procedures for periodically conducting random reviews of compliance of its relevant privacy practices to verify adherence to the Company's Privacy Policy. IQVIA encourages individuals covered by this Policy to raise questions about the processing of Personal Information about them by contacting IQVIA’ CODP through the contact information provided below. Any employee that IQVIA determines is in violation of this Privacy Policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.
DISPUTE RESOLUTION: Any questions or concerns regarding the use or disclosure of Personal Information should be directed to IQVIA’ CODP through the contact information given below. IQVIA will investigate and attempt to resolve complaints and disputes regarding use and disclosure of Personal Information in accordance with the principles contained in this Policy. For complaints involving Personal Information other than human resources data that cannot be resolved, such disputes will be referred to the American Arbitration Association for resolution unless the complainant selects an alternate mechanism. For internal complaints by Individuals involving human resources data that cannot be resolved between IQVIA and an employee after following the internal review, complaint, and appeal procedures, IQVIA will participate in the dispute resolution procedures of the applicable national data protection authority and Swiss Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner to resolve disputes.
CONTACT INFORMATION: Questions, comments or concerns regarding this Policy should be submitted to IQVIA’ Council on Data Protection by e-mail as follows: data.protection@IQVIA.com.
RESERVATION OF RIGHTS: IQVIA reserves the right to share an Individual’s Personal Information as required or authorized by law or regulation or in response to duly authorized information requests of government authorities.
CHANGES TO THE PRIVACY POLICY: This Policy may be reviewed and amended from time to time, without advance notice to ensure that an appropriate level of protection for Personal Information is maintained. All amendments will be posted on this website. Please check back periodically for updates to this Policy.
PRIVACY POLICY - EFFECTIVE DATE: JANUARY 5, 2005; last updated 19 November 2015
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In addition to this Privacy Policy Statement, IQVIA’ Website Privacy Policy is available on this Internet site at https://www.iqvia.com/about-us/privacy. IQVIA sees the Internet and the use of other technologies as valuable tools for communicating and interacting with consumers, employees, healthcare professionals, business partners, and others. IQVIA recognizes the importance of maintaining the privacy of information collected online and has created a specific Website Privacy Policy governing the treatment of Personal Information collected through web sites that it operates. With respect to Personal Information that is transferred from the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland to the U.S., IQVIA’ Website Privacy Policy is subordinate to this Privacy Policy. However, the IQVIA’ Website Privacy Policy also reflects additional legal requirements and evolving standards with respect to Internet privacy.
Information about how IQVIA Japan protects privacy is available on IQVIA’ Japan Internet site in Japanese at https://www.iqvia.com/ja-jp/locations/japan/about-iqvia-japan/privacy.
Information about how IQVIA Korea protects privacy is available here and on IQVIA' Korea location page. Download: Privacy Policy Statement for IQVIA Korea