E-drug: Press release from ACCC on pharmaceutical promotion
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Greater Consumer Awareness of Drug Companies' Dealings with
Doctors Proposed.
Consumers should have greater awareness of drug companies
dealings with doctors under a proposed Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission authorisation* decision on an industry code
of conduct.
"The Code would govern the marketing activities of companies
promoting prescription medicines to doctors", ACCC Chairman,
Professor Allan Fels, said today. "It has been developed by
Medicine Australia, the national association representing the
industry.
"Given community concern about drug marketing, the ACCC
proposes to grant authorisation subject to:
- the Code being amended to require drug companies make public
(on Medicines Australia's website www.medicinesaustralia.com.au)
all instances where the companies propose to provide sponsorship,
travel, accommodation and similar promotional benefits to doctors
before the benefits are provided. Such information is likely to assist
in ensuring that benefits are not provided which might affect
doctors' prescribing habits; and
- Medicines Australia publishing full details of all breaches of the
Code on its website.
"The ACCC acknowledges recent improvements to the Code but
believes the conditions will improve the Code's ability to prevent
drug companies' marketing activities inappropriately influencing
doctors' prescribing decisions.
"The ACCC proposes to authorise the Code for three years. This
will allow the ACCC to assess how effective self-regulation has
been in addressing consumer concerns about the drug
companies/doctors".
The Code regulates matters such as drug company sponsorship of
medical conferences; the payment of travel and accommodation
expenses of doctors attending such conferences; and the provision
of other forms of hospitality and entertainment.
The Code also regulates advertising of prescription drugs to the
medical profession. Advertising to consumers of prescription drugs
is prohibited by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
The ACCC will now consult interested parties about its draft
decision. Medicines Australia's Code of Conduct relates to
prescription medicines, which were largely unaffected by the recent
recall of Pan Pharmaceuticals products.
Further information:
Professor Allan Fels, Chairman, pager (02) 6285 6170
Ms Jennifer McNeill, Commissioner, (02) 6243 1112
Ms Lin Enright, Director, Public Relations, (02) 6243 1108 or 0414
613 520
MR 134/03 27 June 2003
* The Trade Practices Act 1974 prohibits competitors agreeing to
work together in a way that substantially reduces competition
between them. Authorisation provides immunity from court action
arising from such agreements but can only be granted where the
ACCC is satisfied that the public benefit arising from the conduct
outweighs any public detriment.
Dr. Ken Harvey
Board Member, Therapeutic Guidelines Ltd. (http://www.tg.com.au)
Australian Consumers Association (http://www.choice.com.au)
Senior Lecturer, School of Public Health, La Trobe University,
Bundoora, 3086, Australia; Telephone +61 3 9479 1750,
Facsimile +61 3 9479 1783, Mobile 0419 181910;
(http://www.latrobe.edu.au/publichealth/kharvey/).
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