Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6532
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: report
Self-regulation or self-deception? Commentary on the 1994 revision of the IFPMA Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices
Amsterdam: Health Action International 1994 Oct
Abstract:
For 13 years, criticism has been made of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations’ Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices. In recent years, that criticism has increased, including some powerful voices within the industry itself demanding a stronger code. A new edition of the code, due out in October 1994, incorporates some major changes in wording, but still lacks powerful monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. The new edition incorporates some key areas covered by the WHO Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion. However, it fails to include other areas. It also still provides considerable scope for companies to evade the code by hiding behind weaker national legislation or rules. “If a product is duly registered with a regulatory authority . . . it is not for the IFPMA to criticise the judgement of that authority.†Some parts of the code have more specific wording, which provides more opportunity to monitor compliance, however the IFPMA is not proposing any pro-active monitoring system. Other significant gaps include the lack of meaningful sanctions for poor adherence to the code, no provisions for corrective action to be taken to counter misleading promotion, and no independent assessment and review process. As a document intended to prevent inappropriate drug promotion, it is inadequate and lacks teeth.
Keywords:
*analysis/International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations/IFPMA/ Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (IFPMA)/regulation of promotion/WHO/World Health Organization/Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INTERNATIONAL CODES
