Belgian drug group hits out over DTC claims

Belgium's research-based pharmaceutical industry group, pharma.be, has reacted to what it regards as false claims made by a consumer group. The allegations made in the June edition of Test Sante, published by Test Achat, include the repetition of accusations made earlier this year by anti-pharmaceutical industry activists concerning direct-to-consumer advertising in the European Union.

Among the Test Sante's claims was that the European Commission's review of regulations concerning information to patients is being lobbied by the drug industry to achieve a similar framework to that of the USA and New Zealand. On the contrary, the pharma.be stated, "the pharmaceutical industry precisely wishes to avoid direct-to-patient information for prescription medicines."

EFPIA's views endorsed