Healthy Skepticism Library item: 18049

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

Gibson L
Medicines agency introduces greater transparency
BMJ 2003 Dec 13; 327:(7428):1368
http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/327/7428/1368-d

Abstract:

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which was officially launched last week, has initiated several moves to improve its transparency and public profile.

The agency has decided to publish the outcome of its investigations into complaints about pharmaceutical company advertising.

It will publish on its website the outcome of complaints received from 1 December. Details will include a description of the complaint (the name of the company and product); the date of the complaint and its source (which will be anonymised), the agency’s conclusion; and what action has been agreed with the company (whether the advertisement is to be amended or to be withdrawn or whether a corrective statement is to be issued).

The pharmaceutical industry currently regulates itself through the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, which is based at the same offices as the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. Although the authority . . .