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Advancing healthcare policy

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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Clinical trials and Europe

The central issues in the debate surrounding the 2014 European Clinical Trials Regulation: protecting participants, and an international campaign for clinical data transparency.

Transparent, independent health authorities

To act first and foremost in the interests of citizens, drug regulatory agencies must develop independent decision-making processes and a culture of transparency towards data.

Pharmacovigilance

Public health disasters are a constant reminder of the need for independent and proactive pharmacovigilance. Yet under the recent reorganisation of European pharmacovigilance, this crucial public health mission is increasingly outsourced to drug companies.

Medical devices and Europe

The overhaul (2012-2017) of the European legislative framework for medical devices was a missed opportunity to improve patient safety, notably by failing to require that high-risk medical devices undergo clinical evaluation before they can be placed on the market.

Drug packaging and patient safety

A drug's packaging is an important component of its harm-benefit balance. Quality packaging encourages proper use of medicines, and allows many errors to be avoided.

The INN, a drug's real name

INNThe readily intelligible language of the International Nonproprietary Name (INN) makes for clear thinking, protects patient safety and encourages rational use of medicines, free from influence. 
 

Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) disguised as patient "information" [2007-2012]

To ensure that patients' rights are respected: yes to reliable independent information, no to direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) masquerading as "information", "compliance support" or other types of "health education" programmes.

The Medicines in Europe Forum: actions by the network

The European legislative framework impacts the level of guarantees afforded to citizens of the European Union in terms of the quality and safety of their healthcare. It is certainly too sensitive a matter to give free rein to vested interests.

Back to the chronological recap of actions by year