E-DRUG: HAI Europe responds to EU Pharmaceutical Forum initiative: is this advertising disguised as health information?
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Dear E-druggers,
Health Action International Europe (HAI-E), the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB), the Association Internationale de la Mutualité (AIM), the Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs (BEUC), and the Medicines in Europe Forum (MiEF) have endorsed a joint declaration on the provision of relevant health information to citizens, to be presented on the occasion of the meeting of the European's Commission Pharmaceutical Forum.
Considering that health information is a fundamental and necessary part of healthcare, these organizations have called for a clear distinction between information and advertising disguised as "information". They warn of the inherent conflicts of interest of pharmaceutical companies which are unable to provide unbiased comparative information on available drug and non-drug treatment alternatives.
For more information, please visit the HAI website at www.haiweb.org
Best wishes,
Teresa Alves
Teresa L. Alves
European Campaigns Coordinator
Health Action International (HAI) Europe
Jacob van Lennepkade 334T
1053 NJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Tel: +31 20 683 3684
Fax: +31 20685 5002
Email:teresa@haiweb.org
Web site: http://www.haiweb.org
Health Action International (HAI) is an independent, global network working to increase access to essential medicines and improve their rational use.