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Prescrire International is now published 11 times a year

In an international scene more and more dominated by continuing medical education that is financed by pharmaceutical companies – and more generally by information that is under the influence –  monthly publication will reinforce Prescrire International’s role as a critical voice in the European medicines market, and as a reliable source of independent continuing education for healthcare professionals.

Prescrire International, the English-language edition of the French journal La revue Prescrire, got its start in 1992 as a 48-page quarterly journal. Over the years, it has evolved into Prescrire in English, a complete documentary resource composed of a 48-page bimonthly journal plus a website offering full access to back issues. Beginning with the current issue (November 2010), Prescrire International will be published 11 times a year.

In 1992 our colleagues from the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB), of which Prescrire was a founding member, convinced us to translate a selection of texts from Prescrire into English. The market for medicines was going global, and the need for independent evaluation of risks and benefits was being felt in every country.

Thanks to this English-language medium, Prescrire was able to broaden its readership, and to benefit from exchanges with many physicians and pharmacists around the world, as well as building up its lobbying efforts at the European Commission and having its voice heard by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).

November 2010: Prescrire International goes monthly
Prescrire International was initially read mainly by a circle of colleagues from the ISDB, from the Healthy Skepticism and Health Action International networks, by academics specialising in medicines, and by members of regulatory agencies, WHO and industry.

Today, publishing Prescrire International monthly will allow us to follow new developments more closely, and to broaden the circle of our readership. The Prescrire in English Internet site has now joined the paper edition, to facilitate the utilisation of Prescrire’s publications in English and to increase visibility.

From a political point of view, the international scene is more and more dominated by continuing medical education that is financed by pharmaceutical companies, and more generally by information that is under the influence – witness the recent popularity of conflicts of interest as a theme. In addition, the loss of credibility by the world’s health “authorities” has been considerable, whether it be drug evaluation and regulatory bodies, or the World Health Organization itself. In this context, monthly publication will reinforce Prescrire International’s role as a critical voice in the European medicines market, and as a reliable source of independent continuing education for healthcare professionals.

©Prescrire November 2010
 
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