Healthy Skepticism Library item: 19912
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: news
Margo J
APMA withdraws news release
The Sydney Morning Herald 1989 Oct 307
Full text:
The Australian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers’ Association (APMA) has withdrawn its announcement that one of its members resigned rather than accepts sanctions for breaching its code of conduct.
Last Wednesday, the APMA issued a news release saying: “The decision by Smith Kline & French Australia Pty Ltd (SKF) to resign from the APMA, rather than undertake the actions required of them for breaching the APMA’s Code of Conduct, is an inappropriate response to the decision reached by its peers.
“For the last seven months, the APMA committee has reviewed a series of complaints from the medical profession and the Department of Community Service and Health about Smith Kline’s promotion of their hepatitis B vaccine. The review process has been through and lengthy, due in part to delays by the company in responding to questions of clarification sought by the committee.
“SKF’s promotion to schools suggesting the vaccinations of all pupils was found in breach of the APMA’s code of conduct, and last week the APMA Committee directed SKF to contact those schools who had received SKF promotion.
“The response from the company was a letter resigning from the APMA and criticising the code administration”.
The news release went on to say the APMA remained committed to its code of conduct. On Friday night the APMA withdrew the news release.
Yesterday, Mr Ken Windle, chairman of the APMA said the whole release had been withdrawn, and that as the matte “was now subject to legal interest” he could not comment further.
However, the Herald understands SKF has not withdrawn its resignation from the APMA
Additional Note News of SKF withdrawal of its resignation from the APMA was made to the public on the 10 Nov 1989*
