ABPI call for on-line PILs; consumers want more

Physicians and other health care professionals need to be more accessible to patients and carers about their treatments, says a report published the UK's Long-term Conditions Alliance (LTCA) and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. The study of the benefits and risks of medical treatments, titled Finding the Balance, found that patients who ask questions and raise concerns about medicines will gain the best possible treatment plans. The ABPI also argues that, for example, nurses and local pharmacists could play a more active role and general practitioners' surgeries provide patient information corners.

Richard Tiner, the ABPI's medical director, said: "doctors need to listen to patients, as informed patients are likely to experience better outcomes from their health care." He stressed that "there is no 'one-size-fits-all' treatment for any condition. Patients need to work with the people prescribing their medication to determine which treatments will work best with their lifestyle. While many health professionals may recognize the importance of patient involvement, time constraints mean that modern GPs often fail to prioritize such discussions."

According to the report, a lack of patient understanding can often lead to medicines being taken incorrectly, making them less effective and potentially less safe. In some cases, patients who feel unable to discuss their concerns may cease taking a medication without informing their GP. Another danger is that patients may self-diagnose and purchase prescription drugs via the Internet, with potentially fatal consequences (Marketletters passim). The report therefore calls for patients to be given access to high-quality information about treatments, recommending that drugmakers supply more statutory details about products, as Patient Information Leaflets, on their web sites.