Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15226

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: Journal Article

Watson R.
Organisations question EC changes on drug information for patients
BMJ 2009 Mar 4; 338:(7694):b894
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/338/mar04_1/b894

Abstract:

Medical and consumer organisations are raising concerns about plans by the European Commission to allow drug companies to provide information on prescription only drugs directly to the public. The drug industry is also questioning how the system would work in practice.

The initial reactions to measures that would allow drug companies to supply factual information on prescription only drugs to the public emerged last week at a conference in Brussels organised by the European Commission and the Organisation for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs.

The draft legislation, tabled last December, covers the type of information that may be given; the channels through which it may be supplied; the quality criteria and conditions to be met; the monitoring mechanisms to be put in place; and the sanctions to be applied in cases of non-compliance.

The conference was the first major opportunity for different groups to present their views in the same forum. . . .