HAI Lights - August 2001

HAI Europe, 2001, Vol.6, No. 2

Is the EU edging towards DTCA?
Examining the consequences of industry's latest lobby
by Lisa Hayes

As part of a set of proposals creating a new legal framework for medicines in the EU, the European Commission released a proposal this July which would allow pharmaceutical companies to promote prescription products for three types of illness (HIV/AIDS, diabetes and asthma) directly to consumers during a five-year trial period. Currently, all direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription medicines is banned within the European Union's member states. While an EU spokesperson stated that the proposal was meant to balance information already available through non-EU websites, some public health advocates believe this announcement may be the first step towards the introduction of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs to Europe's almost 400 million consumers. As little research is available on the public health benefits of DTCA, the question remains: who actually benefits from DTCA--consumers or industry?

In our lead story, Lisa Hayes reports on the findings of HAI Europe's international working group on DTCA. Click here for the full story

Also in this issue:

	Drug Policy		WHO Model Essential Drugs List procedures to be updated WHO report on ICH and harmonisation European Health Forum
	WHO Revised Drug Strategy Watch		Improving and sustaining access to essential medicines HIV/AIDS The Revised Drug Strategy Discussion on the Essential Drugs List Strengthening health systems in developing countries WHO's growing collaboration with the private sector Creation of a Global AIDS and Health Fund
	Campaigns
	- Pharmaceuticals and trade		Differential pricing focus of WTO/WHO meeting WTO TRIPs Council holds special session on access US withdraws WTO case against Brazil The real cost of R&D
	- Public-private interactions		Global health and AIDS fund moves forward-but is it enough? Do PPIs benefit children? Conflict of interest in Canada? Industry-academia clash in Australia Buying influence: the drug industry's lobbying game BMJ editor resigns from academic post due to industry donation
	Publications		Vaccines for developing economies: Who will pay? The Other Davos-The Globalization of Resistance to the World Economic System Dark Remedy: The impact of thalidomide and its revival as a vital medicine The Human Development Report 2001: "Making new technologies work for human development" Challenging Inequities in Health: >From Ethics to Action


To download this issue of HAI-Lights in Word 6.0/95 format for PC: click on these links: Title page and table of contents (98k) Lead story: 'Is the EU edging towards DTCA?' by Lisa Hayes (45k) All other sections (51k)
For the PDF-format version use these links: Title page, table of contents and lead story: 'Is the EU edging towards DTCA?' by Lisa Hayes (155k) All other sections (132k)
HAI-Lights is produced three times a year by the HAI Europe office, together with members of the regional network. Contributions are welcome for future issues. Please send information to: info@haiweb.org. For subscription information, please contact the HAI Europe office. Editor: Lisa Hayes Designer: Sadara Contributors to this issue: Margaret Ewen, Andy Gray, Rose de Groot, David Healy, Annie Heaton, Joel Lexchin, Peter Mansfield, Charles Medawar, Frank van Meerendonk, Barbara Mintzes, Public Citizen, Melissa Raven, Mohga Smith, Third World Network, Els Witschge.