E-DRUG: New Guide from HAI to Help Counter Pharmaceutical Marketing
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Dear e-Druggers,
Health Action International (HAI) has released a guide for
healthcare professionals, students and educators that teaches them how to
identify and respond to marketing tactics used by pharmaceutical companies
to increase sales of their products.
With recent studies showing that healthcare professionals are
significantly underestimating the influence of pharmaceutical marketing on
their prescribing habits, the guide fills an important gap in the
education of those we entrust to make clear and unbiased prescription
decisions. The guide also outlines current EU regulations for
pharmaceutical marketing, as well as the ongoing problem of industry
self-regulation for marketing breaches by companies.
While the guide was written in the context of the European Union, its
learnings can be applied to jurisdictions worldwide.
Full Media Release can be viewed below and online at
http://bit.ly/2eqt8PS.
Download Guide: http://bit.ly/2f3BwGN
If you have any questions, or for interview requests, please contact me at
james@haiweb.org or call + 31 (0) 20 412 4523.
PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday 25th October 2016 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HEALTH ACTION INTERNATIONAL LAUNCHES EDUCATIONAL GUIDE TO HELP EU
HEALTHCARE STUDENTS & PROFESSIONALS COUNTER ILL EFFECTS OF PHARMACEUTICAL MARKETING
HAI urges medical, pharmacy and other healthcare faculties across Europe
to increase education and training on how to respond to pharmaceutical
marketing targeting healthcare professionals
AMSTERDAM‹ Health Action International (HAI) today released a new book
that teaches healthcare students and professionals in the European Union
(EU) how to identify and respond to marketing tactics used by
pharmaceutical companies to increase sales of their products. .
The book, entitled - Fact or Fiction? What Healthcare Professionals Need to
Know About Pharmaceutical Marketing in the European Union¹, explains the
negative impact of pharmaceutical marketing on healthcare professionals¹
prescribing and dispensing practices. It also outlines current EU
regulations for pharmaceutical marketing, as well as the ongoing problem
of industry self-regulation for marketing breaches by companies.
The need for the book stems from research that shows that healthcare
professionals are highly exposed to pharmaceutical marketing activities.
Yet, education about how to critically appraise pharmaceutical marketing
remains inadequate. Indeed, many healthcare professionals fail to
recognise that they are personally influenced by it.
'Studies have found that many healthcare professionals believe that their
colleagues are influenced by pharmaceutical marketing, such as receiving
free gifts and paying for conference accommodation and expenses, but
believe that they are personally not influenced,' ² said Ancel.la Santos,
Policy Advisor at Health Action International.
'In response to this finding, we developed this book to help healthcare
professionals detect the many, often subtle, ways pharmaceutical marketing
can influence their clinical practice without them being fully conscious
of it,' said Santos.
The book, which uses fully referenced information sources, a case study,
group activities and exercises, has been sent to universities, medical and
student associations, and civil society groups across Europe. These
organisations have all been encouraged to share the report with their
members and incorporate its content into their curriculums and training
programs.
The book can be downloaded free of charge on HAI¹s website at
http://bit.ly/2f3BwGN.
Note to Editors
The report brings to light some concerning statistics on pharmaceutical
marketing education:
· 85.2% of surveyed French medical students felt inadequately
educated about conflicts of interest
· While 45.1% of surveyed German medical students believed that
gifts would influence their prescribing behavior, only 24.1% believed it
would affect their own prescribing habits.
· Pharmaceutical companies spend 23% of their turnover on marketing
more than they spend on research and development
For comment, interview requests and additional information:
James Still, Communications Advisor
Health Action International
Email: james@haiweb.org / Office: +31 20 412 4523
Web: www.haiweb.org
James Still <James@haiweb.org>