European Parliament soundly rejects move towards direct-to-consumer advertising
HAI Europe applauds Parliament's decision to protect public health, not industry's interests

24 October 2002, Amsterdam

By an overwhelming majority, the European Parliament yesterday defeated a proposal which would have weakened the EU's ban on advertising prescription-only medicines to the public.

In a vote of 494 to 42 the Parliament adopted an amendment that removed the Commission's proposal to allow the industry to advertise medicines for three disease groups: HIV/AIDS, asthma, and diabetes.

"We are thrilled by the Parliament's clear message that public health should come before drug company profits," said Margaret Ewen, HAI Europe's coordinator for this campaign. "The industry and DG Enterprise have repeatedly tried to disguise this advertising effort as a way to inform patients about their medicines. However, the Parliament clearly saw the proposal's actual intent and defeated it."

The vote came during the Parliament's consideration of legislation aimed at reforming European legislation on pharmaceutical products. The proposals will now go to the EU's Council of Ministers before returning to the Parliament.

For more information, contact:

Margaret Ewen
HAI Europe's Co-Director (Projects)
Tel: (+31-20) 683 3684
Fax: (+31-20) 685 5002
Email: info@haiweb.org