english.prescrire.org > Topics > Advancing healthcare policy > Advancing healthcare policy in Europe: a chronological recap of actions > 2008-2010 Recap > Legal proposals on "information" to patients by pharmaceutical companies (3/09)

Advancing healthcare policy

Advancing healthcare policy in Europe: a chronological recap of actions

A recap of actions in 2008-2010
Legal proposals on "information" to patients by pharmaceutical companies: a threat to public health (March 2009)

Joint briefing paper
Brussels, 6 March 2009

Summary: An old tale: The implementation of “Direct-to-consumer advertising” (DTCA) in Europe has been a priority for pharmaceutical companies since the last EU pharmaceutical legislation review in 2001.

Over the past 8 years, the European Commission has strived to see it through by multiplying public consultations and by reinventing it under the guise of “Direct-to-consumer information” (DTCI). If its aim truly is to improve European citizens’ access to relevant medicines’ information, then a more ambitious strategy is needed.

The only real rationale for the Commission’s proposals to change the current EU legislation seems to be to benefit the commercial interests of pharmaceutical companies by expanding their markets. This is a useless exercise for both Europeans and Member States, representing additional bureaucracy and increased cost and putting patients at risk.

These proposals, therefore, need to be withdrawn.

> Click here to download the Joint briefing paper in full.

Signed: Association Internationale de la Mutualité (AIM)
European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP)
Health Action International (HAI) Europe
International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB)
Medicines in Europe Forum (MiEF)