Published 3 February 2009, doi:10.1136/bmj.b252
Cite this as: BMJ 2009;338:b252

Analysis

Relationships with the drug industry: Focus on better information

¹ Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, London SW1A 2DY

The relationship between the drug industry, academia, healthcare professionals, and patients has reached an all time low and few doubt that it is in the interests of all parties to improve it. A recent report from the Royal College of Physicians attempts to define a path towards achieving a more productive relationship. Here we set out five contrasting views on what the ideal relationship between industry and prescribers and patients should be and what steps need to be taken to achieve it (doi:10.1136/bmj.b222, doi:10.1136/bmj.b211, doi:10.1136/bmj.b252, doi:10.1136/bmj.b232)

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

The primary role of the research based drug industry is to discover, develop, license, and market innovative medicines to prevent, treat, or cure disease. This role has a prime benefit for patients but also helps prescribers in their role of managing disease. The UK industry is committed to a stable and pragmatic partnership with the government and the NHS on medicines—one that enshrines value for money, reward for innovation, and ensures greater availability of new medicines to patients. This should lead to the industry being seen as a trusted partner in the provision of health care by both prescribers and patients.

The industry believes it has a legitimate right to provide information about the benefits of its medicines to prescribers. In the UK, the way in which this is done is regulated by the Medicines Act through the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Association of British Pharmaceutical . . . [Full text of this article]

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