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BMA response to EU information to patient proposals

September 2008

The BMA has responded to the European Commission draft legislative proposals on information to patients.

In its response, the BMA highlights its concerns with the draft proposal which would relax the current rules on direct to consumer advertising of prescription only pharmaceutical drugs by allowing pharmaceutical companies to provide 'information' on their products through a variety of media.

The BMA will be launching a lobbying campaign on this issue in the autumn when further proposals are due to be released.

Download the response in PDF format using the link on the right.

The BMA has also added its signature to a joint letter written by the consumer group Which? and signed by a number of UK health stakeholders.

The letter is addressed to the EU Enterprise Commissioner and UK MEPs and calls on decision makers to protect patients from the dangers of advertising and misinformation.

Download the letter in PDF format here (122K) or by using the link on the right.