E-drug: Advertising in national formularies (cont)
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The situation described by Joel Lexchin is to a large extent identical to
the situation in Norway as well as in the other Nordic countries.
The probably most used reference is a book containing datasheet.
Published by the association of manufacturers and issued free once
per year. Contains monographs on each product, organised
alphabetically by brand name. The monograph must be within the frame
of the data sheet approved by the regulatory body but is not always
identical to it. And there is no requirement for updating the
information and e.g. new adverse drug reactions, precautions are not
always added. Interesting to note is that when the regulatory
authority some years ago asked for information on safety in pregnancy
to be added, the manufacturers refused to do so saying the regulatory
authority would have to do so themselves! In Sweden such information
is included. (Does this fit in with the image that companies do no
more than what is required of them by law?) The book does not contain
any other advertisements.
The second source is a drug handbook for primary health care,
organised by disease group. Issued with two years intervals, it is
paid by the
government, issued free and contains no advertisements.
Kirsten
Kirsten Myhr, MScPharm, MPH
Bygd�y alle 58B
0265 Oslo, Norway
Tel.: +47 22 56 05 85
myhr@online.no
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