UK parliamentary Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry

[Guest guest]

UK parliamentary Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry

http://www.mind.org.uk/News+policy+and+campaigns/Press/drugsinquiry.h

tm

Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry a victory for consumer rights -

Mind Chief Executive

Immediate release - Friday 18 June 04

Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry a victory for consumer rights

Brook, Chief Executive of mental health charity Mind, has

today welcomed the announcement there is to be a parliamentary

inquiry into the influence wielded by the pharmaceutical industry on

UK health policy and treatment provision. Key terms of reference for

the inquiry will include the power of drugs companies in relation to

medical research, drugs trials and the independent regulation of

pharmaceutical medicine.

Mind has long questioned the influence of pharmaceutical giants on

the promotion and regulation of medicines. In recent months, the

ability of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

(MHRA) to safeguard patients' interests has been called into

question over the revelation that many thousands of people were

exposed to potentially harmful doses of the antidepressant Seroxat

(*1). In March this year Mr Brook resigned from an MHRA advisory

panel on SSRI antidepressants, expressing concern that the agency

had been aware of these problems, but had failed to act.

Brook said,

" The announcement that the Commons Health Committee is to

investigate the role of the drugs companies in relation to the way

medicines are developed, promoted and regulated is a significant

victory for the British consumer. In particular, it is testament to

the determination of ordinary people to have their concerns over

antidepressant side effects heard and acted upon by the regulatory

authorities.

" The regulator's prime function should always be protecting the

public from bad medicine. It should never be open to influence from

pharmaceutical multinationals seeking instead to protect their

commercial interests.

" We have been expressing unease over the power that drugs companies

possess in relation to medicines evaluation for some time. And we

have been concerned that medicines that are not fully understood

with relation to adverse side effects are all too often aggressively

promoted.

" Mind hopes that this inquiry will result in a better deal for

millions of people, regardless of their condition or their

prescribed treatment. Meanwhile we will continue to campaign for

truly independent drugs evaluation and regulation. The British

public deserves a system that puts the patient at the heart of the

decision-making process. "

*** Ends ***

[Guest guest]

UK parliamentary Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry

http://www.mind.org.uk/News+policy+and+campaigns/Press/drugsinquiry.h

tm

Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry a victory for consumer rights -

Mind Chief Executive

Immediate release - Friday 18 June 04

Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry a victory for consumer rights

Brook, Chief Executive of mental health charity Mind, has

today welcomed the announcement there is to be a parliamentary

inquiry into the influence wielded by the pharmaceutical industry on

UK health policy and treatment provision. Key terms of reference for

the inquiry will include the power of drugs companies in relation to

medical research, drugs trials and the independent regulation of

pharmaceutical medicine.

Mind has long questioned the influence of pharmaceutical giants on

the promotion and regulation of medicines. In recent months, the

ability of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

(MHRA) to safeguard patients' interests has been called into

question over the revelation that many thousands of people were

exposed to potentially harmful doses of the antidepressant Seroxat

(*1). In March this year Mr Brook resigned from an MHRA advisory

panel on SSRI antidepressants, expressing concern that the agency

had been aware of these problems, but had failed to act.

Brook said,

" The announcement that the Commons Health Committee is to

investigate the role of the drugs companies in relation to the way

medicines are developed, promoted and regulated is a significant

victory for the British consumer. In particular, it is testament to

the determination of ordinary people to have their concerns over

antidepressant side effects heard and acted upon by the regulatory

authorities.

" The regulator's prime function should always be protecting the

public from bad medicine. It should never be open to influence from

pharmaceutical multinationals seeking instead to protect their

commercial interests.

" We have been expressing unease over the power that drugs companies

possess in relation to medicines evaluation for some time. And we

have been concerned that medicines that are not fully understood

with relation to adverse side effects are all too often aggressively

promoted.

" Mind hopes that this inquiry will result in a better deal for

millions of people, regardless of their condition or their

prescribed treatment. Meanwhile we will continue to campaign for

truly independent drugs evaluation and regulation. The British

public deserves a system that puts the patient at the heart of the

decision-making process. "

*** Ends ***

[Guest guest]

UK parliamentary Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry

http://www.mind.org.uk/News+policy+and+campaigns/Press/drugsinquiry.h

tm

Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry a victory for consumer rights -

Mind Chief Executive

Immediate release - Friday 18 June 04

Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry a victory for consumer rights

Brook, Chief Executive of mental health charity Mind, has

today welcomed the announcement there is to be a parliamentary

inquiry into the influence wielded by the pharmaceutical industry on

UK health policy and treatment provision. Key terms of reference for

the inquiry will include the power of drugs companies in relation to

medical research, drugs trials and the independent regulation of

pharmaceutical medicine.

Mind has long questioned the influence of pharmaceutical giants on

the promotion and regulation of medicines. In recent months, the

ability of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

(MHRA) to safeguard patients' interests has been called into

question over the revelation that many thousands of people were

exposed to potentially harmful doses of the antidepressant Seroxat

(*1). In March this year Mr Brook resigned from an MHRA advisory

panel on SSRI antidepressants, expressing concern that the agency

had been aware of these problems, but had failed to act.

Brook said,

" The announcement that the Commons Health Committee is to

investigate the role of the drugs companies in relation to the way

medicines are developed, promoted and regulated is a significant

victory for the British consumer. In particular, it is testament to

the determination of ordinary people to have their concerns over

antidepressant side effects heard and acted upon by the regulatory

authorities.

" The regulator's prime function should always be protecting the

public from bad medicine. It should never be open to influence from

pharmaceutical multinationals seeking instead to protect their

commercial interests.

" We have been expressing unease over the power that drugs companies

possess in relation to medicines evaluation for some time. And we

have been concerned that medicines that are not fully understood

with relation to adverse side effects are all too often aggressively

promoted.

" Mind hopes that this inquiry will result in a better deal for

millions of people, regardless of their condition or their

prescribed treatment. Meanwhile we will continue to campaign for

truly independent drugs evaluation and regulation. The British

public deserves a system that puts the patient at the heart of the

decision-making process. "

*** Ends ***

[Guest guest]

UK parliamentary Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry

http://www.mind.org.uk/News+policy+and+campaigns/Press/drugsinquiry.h

tm

Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry a victory for consumer rights -

Mind Chief Executive

Immediate release - Friday 18 June 04

Inquiry into pharmaceutical industry a victory for consumer rights

Brook, Chief Executive of mental health charity Mind, has

today welcomed the announcement there is to be a parliamentary

inquiry into the influence wielded by the pharmaceutical industry on

UK health policy and treatment provision. Key terms of reference for

the inquiry will include the power of drugs companies in relation to

medical research, drugs trials and the independent regulation of

pharmaceutical medicine.

Mind has long questioned the influence of pharmaceutical giants on

the promotion and regulation of medicines. In recent months, the

ability of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency

(MHRA) to safeguard patients' interests has been called into

question over the revelation that many thousands of people were

exposed to potentially harmful doses of the antidepressant Seroxat

(*1). In March this year Mr Brook resigned from an MHRA advisory

panel on SSRI antidepressants, expressing concern that the agency

had been aware of these problems, but had failed to act.

Brook said,

" The announcement that the Commons Health Committee is to

investigate the role of the drugs companies in relation to the way

medicines are developed, promoted and regulated is a significant

victory for the British consumer. In particular, it is testament to

the determination of ordinary people to have their concerns over

antidepressant side effects heard and acted upon by the regulatory

authorities.

" The regulator's prime function should always be protecting the

public from bad medicine. It should never be open to influence from

pharmaceutical multinationals seeking instead to protect their

commercial interests.

" We have been expressing unease over the power that drugs companies

possess in relation to medicines evaluation for some time. And we

have been concerned that medicines that are not fully understood

with relation to adverse side effects are all too often aggressively

promoted.

" Mind hopes that this inquiry will result in a better deal for

millions of people, regardless of their condition or their

prescribed treatment. Meanwhile we will continue to campaign for

truly independent drugs evaluation and regulation. The British

public deserves a system that puts the patient at the heart of the

decision-making process. "

*** Ends ***