In a joint briefing paper, the Medicines in Europe Forum, Health Action International (HAI) Europe and the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB) urge MEPs to vote for amendments aimed at enhancing patients’ access to non-promotional, independent and comparative information. The strict ban on direct-to-consumer advertising must also be upheld.

Summary:
• MEPs will soon be voting on the highly controversial patient "information" proposals (a Directive and a Regulation) (vote in the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee (ENVI) scheduled for September 2010).

• This could be an opportunity to transform these proposals from a threat to public health into progress for patients. To do this, MEPs must vote for the amendments aimed at enhancing access to non-promotional, independent and comparative information. Of particular importance are those amendments boosting the transparency of European and national Drug Regulatory Agencies.

• The Medicines in Europe Forum, Health Action International (HAI) Europe and the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB) also urge MEPs to uphold the strict ban on direct-to-consumer advertising. For example, pharmaceutical companies must not be allowed to publicly disseminate "information" derived from official information, while selectively highlighting the benefits of the drugs and glossing over potential adverse drug reactions. Experience has shown how skilfully advertisers can exploit this sort of loophole.

© Prescrire July 2010

> Click here to download the joint briefing paper in English (pdf, 219 Ko).

> Click here to download the joint briefing paper in French (pdf, 215 Ko).