E-DRUG: Laws regulating drug promotion
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Dear e-druggers,
We are revising all drug laws in the Republic of Yemen and
run into this sticky subject. Can anyone advise us with an
acceptable text regulating drug promotion and the distribution
of samples by company reps. What should be the penalties/fines?
What to do when you find free samples being sold by doctors and
pharmacist (let alone them being expired, the drugs I mean).
Would be grateful for your advise.
Gerrit Weeda
fax: (967)1.415144
P.O.Box 16033 Sana'a,
Republic of Yemen
e-mail : YEMDAPMOPH@Y.NET.YE
Note from the moderator:
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Gerrit Weeda has raised a very important issue which probably
hasn't received the importance it deserves especially in
developing countries.
A number of professional societies notably in the U.S., Canada,
Australia and the U.K. have developed guidelines/position
papers dealing with the relationship between physicians and the
pharmaceutical industry. A number of governments have also issued
regulation to control drug promotion including the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration, the French and the British. Pharmaceutical
industry associations in many countries also have codes to
regulate drug promotion. To my knowledge ethical guidelines
issued by professional societies are voluntary and members
who break the code are not fined. On the other hand,
the U.S. FDA imposes heavy fines and/or issues warning
letters to violators. Guidelines/Codes issued by industry
associations including International Federation of
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers' Association (IFPMA) and the
Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI)
dont seem to have any major impact on violators.
Hope the experts in the E-Drug conference will join in to
help Gerrit. Thanks and good luck!
Syed Rizwanuddin Ahmad
Email: srahmad@essential.org
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