A series of public health disasters (from thalidomide in the 1960s to rofecoxib (Vioxx°) at the beginning of
this century) have served to remind us that effective pharmacovigilance is crucial for the protection of citizens.
Regrettably, the European Commission’s proposed legislative changes, published on 5 December 2007, pose a
serious threat to public health (1).

For more information, please read the press release

At a recent HAI Europe Open Seminar , ‘Ensuring Independent Medicines Information in Europe’, a representative of the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries’ Associations (EFPIA) Dr. Scott Ratzan said that his organization would be interested in revisiting Article 88 of Directive 2001/83/EC, which regulates the advertising of prescription drugs in Europe. At the same event, Christian Siebert, Head of the Pharmaceuticals Unit of the European Commission remained silent when asked by an audience member whether a proposal for legislative change was pending or being planned.

For all the Open Seminar presentations, click here

EMEA implementation of transparency regulations called into question

11th October 2006 – A broad definition of commercial confidentiality is the key barrier to public access to information on the safety and effectiveness of medicines, leaving European citizens at greater risk for otherwise preventable harm.

For more information, please read the press release

Direct-to-consumer advertising revisited by European commission, “Déjà-vu all over again”?

The proposal to weaken the EU’s ban on advertising prescription-only medicines to the public was overwhelmingly rejected by the European Parliament in 2004. Yet, only two years later the European Commission “openly regrets” this decision and calls for a reform of the European pharmaceutical products’ legislation. HAI Europe deplores this move to reopen the direct-to-consumer advertising debate.

For more information, please read the press release

HAI Europe responds to EU Pharmaceutical Forum initiative: is this advertising disguised as health information?

Health Action International Europe (HAI-E), the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB), the Association Internationale de la Mutualité (AIM), the Bureau Européen des Unions de Consommateurs (BEUC), and the Medicines in Europe Forum (MiEF) have endorsed a joint declaration on the provision of relevant health information to citizens, to be presented on the occasion of the meeting of the European’s Commission Pharmaceutical Forum.

For more information, please read the press release or download the declaration.