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Direct-to-consumer communication by pharmaceutical companies? Europeans deserve better

A joint press release from 29 organisations outlines proposals to improve access to independent and comparative health information.

29 organisations, including the Medicines in Europe Forum, of which Prescrire is a founding member, issued a joint press release on 15 March 2010.

Observing that the European Commission’s proposals on ""information" to the general public on medicinal products subject to medical prescription" do not meet the needs of citizens for relevant, independent and comparative health information tailored to users, the group offers 5 proposals of its own:

1. Make the officially approved leaflet more useful and accessible for patients;

2. Optimise communication between patients and health professionals;

3. Encourage national agencies to become proactive and more transparent providers of information;

4. Develop and reinforce existing sources of comparative, unbiased information on treatment choices;

5. Put a rapid and permanent end to the confusion of roles between the pharmaceutical companies and other actors in the healthcare sector.

> Click here to download the full press release (pdf, 618 Ko).

©Prescrire May 2010

"Direct-to-consumer communication by pharmaceutical companies? Europeans deserve better" Joint Press release signed by 29 organizations, 15 March 2010.