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Health professionals are continuing to complain about the promotion of prescription medicines, according to figures from the industry’s self-regulatory body.
The Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA) found that 57 complaints out of a total of 127 were received from health professionals in 2007 compared with just 28 from pharmaceutical companies.
Complaints from health professionals usually outnumber those from the industry itself, the PMCPA said, adding that a current campaign to raise awareness of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) Code amongst health professionals could be one reason for the trend continuing.
Breaches of the code were only ruled in 61% or fewer of the cases considered in 2006 and 2007. This compares favourably with 2005 where 80% of cases considered were ruled in breach of the code.
ABPI president Chris Brinsmead said: “The industry takes all breaches of the Code very seriously and we strive to maintain high standards at all times. This is why we introduced tougher provisions and sanctions in 2006 and set ourselves the additional challenge to raise awareness of the Code amongst doctors and others in the NHS.”
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Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority
