Forum examines medical info

Consumer access to information will be the major topic of discussion tomorrow (29 September) at the first meeting of the high-level pharmaceutical forum, which will be attended by several EU health ministers. The pharmaceutical industry, pharmacists and patient representatives groups are pushing the European Commission to lift a 1992 ban prohibiting drug makers from providing information on prescription medicines.

The forum, which is a joint initiative of the Commission departments for enterprise and health and consumer protection, was set up this year with the aim of bolstering the flagging EU pharmaceuticals sector. In a relatively short period of time, the sector’s competitiveness has diminished significantly. In 1992, the EU still produced six out of the world’s top ten medicines. This figure has now dropped to two.

In a 2001 review of the sector, it was proposed that pharmaceutical companies be allowed to provide information directly to patients suffering from AIDS, asthma or diabetes. This proposal was dropped, but stakeholders are now stepping up their calls for information on all prescription drugs to be made readily available on platforms such as the internet and television. Opponents claim that such information would constitute a form of advertising.

Liberal and centre-right MEPs pushing for a repeal of the ban have sent an open letter to Günter Verheugen, European commissioner for enterprise and industry, and Markos Kyprianou, commissioner for health and consumer protection. The letter argues that consumers are being denied basic rights to information enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights. "We need [boundaries] for a distinction between advertising and information," said Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, one of the signatories of the letter. "We’re against advertising, but quality information can come from companies."

"We believe validated information to patients should be provided by a variety of sources, including industry. That’s the only way patients can make informed choices about medicines and treatments," said Nicola Bedlington, director of the European Patients’ Forum (EPF), which has participated in the preparation of tomorrow’s meeting. She stressed however that EPF did not support direct to consumer advertising.

A Commission report discussing the review of the directive containing the ban (the directive on medicinal products for human use) is to be completed by May 2007. One Finnish diplomat said the next meeting of the forum could take place shortly before the close of the German presidency in June.

Consumer access to information will be the major topic of discussion tomorrow (29 September) at the first meeting of the high-level pharmaceutical forum, which will be attended by several EU health ministers. The pharmaceutical industry, pharmacists and patient representatives groups are pushing the European Commission to lift a 1992 ban prohibiting drug makers from providing information on prescription medicines.