In the latest version of its proposals released in February 2012, the European Commission persists in placing the interests of the pharmaceutical industry before those of patients and public health.

Abstract

• In late September 2010, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) issued their verdict on European Commission proposals aimed at lifting the ban on pharmaceutical companies communicating directly with the general public about prescription drugs. The MEPs were able to limit the scope of some of the more harmful aspects of these proposals, in particular by proposing that drug regulatory agencies should pre-screen the "information" produced by drug companies before it is made available to the public.
   
• In December 2010, faced with ongoing opposition from European Member States, the Commission appeared to back down, announcing that it was drawing up "amended proposals". They were publicly released in February 2012 but still leave the door open to direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs, particularly "reminder advertising".
   
• As of 4 July 2012, the amended proposals had not yet been examined by Member States, thus obstructing the legislative process.
   
• Public health and management of the costs of social services for Member States are at stake. The Medicines in Europe Forum (MiEF) and the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB) urge Member States to continue to refuse to examine the Commission's proposals, and have drawn up concrete counterproposals that would enable the general public to obtain relevant health information.

©Prescrire January 2013

"Drect-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs: European Commission persists in putting industry's interests first" Prescrire Int 2013 ; 23 (134) : 24-27. (pdf, subscribers only)