Letter: Letters : Health code

From Heather Simmonds, PMCPA

London

You report criticisms of pharmaceuticals advertising to health professionals (This Week, 27 September, p 11).

Promotion of medicines to health workers is covered by the code of practice for the pharmaceuticals industry, which is administered by the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority (PMCPA). The code requires that any information, claim or comparison must be capable of substantiation and such substantiation must be provided without delay at the request of members of the health professions.

Companies can only give references in advertising when referring to published studies. They must be able to substantiate everything in their advertising. If the only data available are confidential data on file then the claims cannot be made.

Those who are concerned about pharmaceuticals company advertising to health professionals should consider submitting complaints to the PMCPA.