Drug Promotion: what we know, what we have yet to learn
Reviews of materials in the WHO/HAI database on drug promotion

WHO/EDM/PAR/2004.3
EDM Research Series no. 32

Authors: Pauline Norris, Andrew Herxheimer, Joel Lexchin, Peter Mansfield

Published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI).

This report is part of a project on drug promotion being carried out by WHO and HAI Europe and collated on a database (www.drugpromo.info). This stage involved collecting and analysing existing information on drug promotion. Analysis focussed on the impact that drug promotion has on professional and lay people’s attitudes to promotion; its impact as a source of drug information; its influence in prescribing habits and public health (funding of research); and the interventions that have been tried to counter promotional activities.

Educational Initiatives for medical and pharmacy students about drug promotion: an international cross-sectional survey

WHO/PSM/PAR/2005.2
EDM Research Series no. 36

Author: Barbara Mintzes, October 2005

Published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI)

Increasing attention is being paid to the relationship between health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry. This is the first international survey to examine the extent to which medical and pharmacy students are being educated about drug promotion within the required curriculum. The report shows that although educators found many barriers to success in achieving critical appraisal of promotion, there is a broad interest in further development and work in this area.

Sustaining Access to medicines in Europe: the Coming Crisis
Report of the HAI Europe/Medico International Seminar held 2 November 2001. The meeting emphasised access issues affecting Europe now and in the near future. (HAI Europe 2002)

Providing Prescription Medicine Information to Consumers
Is there a role for direct-to-consumers promoion?
Report of the HAI Europe /EPHA symposium held in January 2002 in Brussels. The symposium was held in advance of an EC proposal to open up the EU to prescription drug advertising; participants shared perspectives on the proposal and its possible impact on public health in Europe.

Public-Private 'Partnerships'
Addressing Public health Needs or Corporate Agendas?
Report on the HAI Europe/BUKO Pharma-Kampagne Seminar held 3 November 2000. The publication highlights risks related to WHO's and others' involvement in public-private partnerships (also available as a Word document). (HAI Europe)

Moving in from the Margin
Increasing Consumer Involvement in the Formulation and Implementation of National Drug Policies Report of the HAI Regional Workshop on Networking for Rational Drug Use in Southern Africa. 31 May - 5 June 1998, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Report of a June 1998 workshop in South Africa, where 34 participants from 11 African countries examined the strengths and weaknesses of national drug policy development and implementation, identified ways to reduce irrational drug use and formulated strategies for improving consumer and NGO participation in national drug policies and for increasing rational drug use in Africa. (HAI Africa/HAI Europe 1999)
Price: Euro 16.00, US$ 17.50

The Ties That Bind
Weighing the risks and benefits of pharmaceutical industry sponsorship (seminar report)
See campaigns page
Public funding for health care initiatives is steadily declining. More and more NGOs must compete for a dwindling pot of money. As a result, many health-related NGOs are debating whether or not to accept funding from the pharmaceutical industry. But is this path so unavoidable and so easily managed into a win-win situation for both industry and health-promoting NGOs? HAI Europe held a one-day seminar to explore this issue and promote discussion between NGOs that do accept industry funding and those who are opposed to it. This report describes the presentations made during the day and the lively debate among the participants. It highlights specific concerns surrounding industry sponsorship and some of its possible consequences for NGOs. (HAI Europe 1999)
Price: Euro 9.00, US$ 10.00

Blurring the Boundaries
New Trends in Drug Promotion (B. Mintzes)
Click here to view full text
Today there is a deliberate blurring of boundaries between drug promotion and objective information on the one hand and the public and private sector on the other. With shrinking public budgets for health and social services, a new climate of "partnership" with industry has emerged without a great deal of examination of what these partnerships may mean. This publication explores the implications this situation has on consumer health, access to appropriate health services and the information on which treatment decisions are based. It also sets out a series of recommendations on how various players involved in drug regulation can work to control drug promotion effectively in order to encourage more rational drug use. (HAI Europe 1998)
Price: Euro 11.00, US$ 12.50

Developing Essential Drugs Policies
A Guide for NGOs
Essential drugs policies based on the WHO concept enable NGOs to use their limited resources to manage drugs effectively and meet priority needs. An essential drugs policy can help NGOs provide improved information, education and training, as well as more efficient supply, storage and distribution of drugs. While many NGOs have advocated the adoption of the WHO essential drugs concept by governments, only a few have integrated it into their own practice. This booklet aims to help change that. It offers practical advice for NGOs interested in developing and implementing essential drugs policies for their organisation. (HAI Europe 1998)
Price: Free of charge

Fragile Economies, Flooded Markets - Networking for Rational Drug Use in Africa
Report on the HAI Eastern Africa training workshop "Promoting Rational Drug Use in the Community" which was held in Nairobi, Kenya from 14-19 March, 1997.
While pharmaceuticals can play a key role in improving health, their benefits remain largely unknown to millions of African consumers. Instead, drugs often contribute to serious health problems on the continent due to misdiagnosis, incorrect self-medication and poor quality of drugs. Many Africans lack access to the most essential drugs and scarce resources are often spent on ineffective and expensive treatments. This report summarises the participants' presentations, conclusions and plans for the future. (HAI Africa/HAI Europe 1997)
Price: Euro 17.50, US$ 17.50

Problem Drugs Pack (A.Chetley)
Information pack on various categories of problem drugs and special prescribing needs for women, children and the elderly. Highlights examples of unethical & double standards in marketing. Special loose-leaf sections for teaching and campaign work (HAI Europe 1994)
Price: Euro 16.00, US$17.50

Problem Drugs (book form) (A.Chetley)
Book version of above Pack (ZED Books 1995). Also available in Russian.
Price: Euro 18.00, US$ 20.00

Médicaments à Problèmes (A. Chetley)
Read more about the book in English or French
French translation of the book version of Problem Drugs
with new information about the situation in Francophone Africa (HAI Europe 1999)
Price: Euro 20, US$20

Médicaments à Problèmes (A.Chetley)
Spanish translation of the book version of Problem Drugs Pack (AIS 1995)
Price:Euro 14.00, US$ 15.00

Statement of the International Working Group on Transparency and Accountability in Drug Regulation
Report of international working group on origins, scope and effects of secrecy in drug regulation (HAI/Dag Hammarskjold Foundation 1997). Available in English, French, Spanish, German, and Italian.
Price: Euro 2.50, US$ 2.25

International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine
Special Issue featuring papers from international authors on how secrecy and lack of transparency and accountability in drug regulation undermine public health (IOS Press 1997),
Price: Euro 22.50, US$ 25.00

Power, Patents and Pills
Seminar Report on the consequences of GATT/WTO for public health and access to essential drugs.
A number of international trade agreements have strong implications for public health. Health Action International (HAI) Europe and BUKO Pharma-Kampagne held a seminar on the GATT/World Trade Organization, Pharmaceutical Policies and Essential Drugs. This seminar explored the consequences of the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) and the newly created World Trade Organization (WTO) for public health and access to pharmaceuticals, especially essential drugs. The publication summarises the seminar's presentations and discussion. It aims to provide a better understanding of the GATT and WTO and their effects on pharmaceutical policies and essential drugs. (HAI Europe 1997)
Price: Euro 7.50, US$ 7.50

Dipyrone: a Drug No One Needs
Critical review of dipyrone incl. bibliography and list of brand name products containing dipyrone (HAI-Europe/BUKO 1989).
Price: Euro 9.00, US$ 10.00

A Healthy Business (A. Chetley)
Traces the campaign for a more rational use of drugs and examines the response of the industry to its critics (ZED books,1990)
Price: Euro 15.75, US$ 17.50

The Provision and Use of Drugs in Developing Countries (A. Hardon et al.)
Annotated bibliography of studies on drug use. Includes a review of policy implications (University of Amsterdam/HAI 1991)
Price: Euro 15.00, US$ 16.25

Promoting Health or Pushing Drugs?
A critical examination of marketing of pharmaceuticals (HAI Europe 1992)
Price: NLG 7.00, US$7.50

Med-Sense
A HAI product promoting critical attitudes towards medicines and encouraging the rational use of drugs. Comes in the form of a pill box. Available in English, French, Spanish, Dutch; limited numbers available in Germany, Flemish, Russian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish. (HAI Europe 1992)
Price: Euro 2.00 (5 boxes for Euro 8.00, 10 boxes for Euro10.00)
Power and Dependence ( by Charles Medawar)
Discusses safety of medicines from a consumer perspective with special reference to benzodiazepine tranquillisers (Social Audit 1992)
Price: Euro 17.50, US$ 18.75

Health and Disease in Developing Countries (Kari S. Lankinen et al.)
Health issues and specific diseases are investigated from the wider perspective of development in general, includes strategies for international cooperation. (Macmillan 1994)
Price: Euro16.00, US$17.50

A Healthy Balance? Women and Pharmaceuticals
An international collection of articles on women and drugs covering: drugs in pregnancy, psychotropics, contraceptive research, quality of care, STDs and medicalisation of women's lives. (Women's Health Action Foundation 1995)
Price: Euro 11.00, US$ 12.50

Deception by Design - Pharmaceutical Promotion in the Third World (Joel Lexchin)
Exposes double standards employed by the pharmaceutical industry in their marketing and promotional practices in developing versus industrialised countries. (Consumers International (CI ROAP) 1995)
Price: Euro 11.00, US$ 12.50

An ill for every pill: recent examples of unethical and misleading marketing(HAI 1996)
To review HAI's press releases, click here.
To order any of the listed publications contact:

HAI Europe, Overtoom 60/II, 1054 HK Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel: (+31 20) 683 3684 / Fax: (+31 20) 685 5002 / E-mail: info@haiweb.org

Payments can be made in Euros using credit cards (Mastercard, Visa) or, for larger orders, through bank transfer. Payment instructions will be given at time of dispatch. N.B. : postage not included. Please indicate on order if books are to be sent by airmail or surface mail and rates will be advised.