english.prescrire.org > Topics > Advancing healthcare policy > Relevant health information: making the right choice for Europe (12/2009)
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Via its policy advocacy, Prescrire acts as a force for change in health policies, first and foremost in the interest of patients.

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Relevant health information: making the right choice for Europe. An important public meeting at the Parliament (December 2009)

The presentations delivered during the public meeting organised at the European Parliament on 2 December 2009 highlighted, with a few concrete examples, just how hazy the lines are between advertising from patient information delivered by drug companies. Read on...
 

Chaired by the European deputies Thomas Ulmer (Germany, PEE) and Carl Schlyter (Sweden, Green Party), a panel of experts called into question the added value of controversial proposals from the European Commission regarding "public information on prescription medicines". The speakers used examples to demonstrate just how hazy the lines are between advertising and patient information delivered by pharmaceutical companies : changing the current legislation would expose the public at large to promotional information.

The main presentations:

  • "The information to patients directive, déjà vu all over again"
    by Dr Barbara Mintzes, Assistant Professor at University of British Columbia (Canada)
    Powerpoint (December 2009)
    > Download (pdf, 709 Ko)

  • What is the added value of the directive on information to the general public on medicinal products subject to medical prescription? (December 2009)
    Responses from:
    Ilaria Passarani, Head of Health Department at European Consumers' Organisation (BEUC)
    > Download (pdf, 118 K)
    Jörg Schaaber, President of the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB)
    > Download (pdf, 1 406 K)

  • Access to information – Patients' and citizens demands (December 2009)
    Interventions from:
    Cédric Diat, from the Association François Aupetit (Crohn's disease)(AFA)
    > Download (pdf, 125 K)
    Anne-Sophie Parent, AGE - European Older People's Platform
    > Download (pdf, 3 017 Ko)

©Prescrire December 2009