E-drug: Euro drug law reform and Direct To Consumer Advertising
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The European Commission has now published details of its
proposals to allow pharmaceutical companies to promote branded
prescription drugs directly to consumers - specifically those
indicated for "AIDS, asthma, chronic bronchopulmonary disorders
and diabetes". See Articles 87 and 88 of the Pharmaceutical
Legislation, Review 2001, at
http://pharmacos.eudra.org/F2/home.html
These proposals are part of general package of drug law reform,
and include a number of important changes. They appear to be
driven mainly by G10, "the high level group established to look at
medicines for Europe". The above-mentioned website does not
identify them, but there are twelve members, including four senior
figures in the pharmaceutical industry. They are, according to their
terms of reference, "the top decision decision-makers on medicines
from the EU". Between now and April 2002, this G10 group will
discuss and report on "the major issues relevant to the right balance
of health objectives and industry competitiveness in Europe".
Elsewhere in the European Commission - and notably in relation to
environmental issues - numerous proposals and formal procedures
exist to encourage the involvement of interested parties. See for
example the June 2001 report of the working group on
Consultation and Participation of Civil Society. However, there is no
indication that the EC Directorate for trade (sorry, "Enterprise") is
seeking to consult widely on these new proposals and website
visitors are not in any way encouraged to comment or provide
feedback.
The European Commission needs to think through the health, social
and democratic implications of these proposals and how they are
going about it. It would be good to see participants in e-drug,
Health Action International and other public health interests give
them considerable assistance in this.
Charles Medawar
Social Audit Ltd
PO Box 111
London NW1 8XG
Tel/Fax +44 (0)20 7586 7771
e-mail: charles@socialaudit.org.uk
http://www.socialaudit.org.uk
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