Healthy Skepticism Library item: 10174

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

Jamaluddin Z.
Concerns are unfounded
The New Straits Times 2007 Mar 20
http://www.nstp.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Letters/20070320082538/Article/index_html

Notes:

Letter

Full text:

YOUR report “Doctors ‘in cahoots with drug companies’” (NST, March 14) highlights certain concerns of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations with regard to drug companies and doctors.

The Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA) feels many of the concerns are unfounded.

Pharmaceutical companies are not allowed direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription drugs. The only way for these companies is to share information about their products with doctors. This enables the doctors to decide whether they want to give their patients the medicines.

The information given is educational and evidence-based.

For PhAMA members, the information is regulated through the PhAMA Code of Conduct for Prescription (Ethical) Products.

The PhAMA code sets standards for the ethical promotion of pharmaceutical products to healthcare professionals.

The code, among others, prohibits the offering of financial inducements to health- care professionals to influence them in the prescription of pharmaceutical products.

For research-based companies, the medicines, samples included, have undergone rigorous testing to determine their effectiveness and safety. They have also been approved for sale.

The Malaysian Drug Control Authority exercises review controls on quality, safety and efficacy.

Pharmaceutical companies are regulated by guidelines.

The Medicines (Advertisement and Sale) Act 1956 (revised 1983) and PhAMA’s Code of Conduct need to be adhered to.

PhAMA has also drawn up guidelines for disease awareness education for members’ compliance.

Many of PhAMA’s member companies also have internal guidelines that clearly state the manner in which members of the company should interact with healthcare professionals.

Consumers need to be informed of their rights when it comes to making healthcare decisions, but they also have to be informed in an unbiased manner.