Healthy Skepticism Library item: 2771

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

Crackdown on drug firm promotion
BBC News 2005 Nov 16
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/4443320.stm

Notes:

Ralph Faggotter’s Comments:

When an industry makes a big fanfare about tightening up on ‘self-regulation’ or its ‘Code of Conduct’ then you can be sure that the public and the regulators have been baying for their blood recently.

Usuallly, however, the ‘tightening of self-regulation’ turns out to be a diversionary tactic.
A ploy to appease the public.

And when the hunt moves on, it is back to business as usual.

Full text:

BBC NEWS | Health | Crackdown on drug firm promotion
Crackdown on drug firm promotion

Drug firms will no longer be able to court doctors with prizes and lavish
venues, following an overhaul of the industry’s code of practice.
Companies must only offer economy air travel to delegates sponsored to attend
meetings, the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry adds.
The first changes to the industry’s code in a decade also focus on patient
safety and process complaints faster.
Companies that breach the code can be named and shamed, the ABPI said.
The new code comes into effect on January 1, 2006.
It bans the use of promotional competitions and quizzes.
As far as meetings and seminars are concerned, subsistence – food and
accommodation – must be strictly limited to what is essential for people to
attend the event.
And companies should avoid using venues renowned for entertainment facilities,
it says.
Firms must make public a list of all patient organisations to which they provide
financial support, and prominent information about how to notify drug firms
about possible side-effects of their products must be displayed on all
promotional material.

Self-regulation
Speaking at the launch in central London, Andrew Hotchkiss, ABPI board member in
charge of the project, said: “The ABPI code of practice has been the gold
standard for pharmaceutical industry regulation throughout the world for many
years.
“Our aim was to ensure that it continued to be strong and effective as well as
fully meeting all the changes and requirements that have occurred since the last
review.”
Jeremy Mean, senior policy manager at the government regulator, the Medicines
and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), said: “The control of
medicines advertising in the UK is based on a long-established system of
self-regulation supported by the statutory role of the MHRA.
“The MHRA warmly welcomes the new code, which includes positive changes to
enhance patient safety to ensure that the code remains robust and rigorous.”
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/4443320.stm

Published: 2005/11/16 16:09:05 GMT

© BBC MMV