DoH to scrap drug advertising ban

Monday, 11 August 2003 8:44 PM

The advertising ban on certain over-the-counter medicines will be lifted, the Department of Health announced today.

But Health Minister Lord Warner stressed that there would be no change to the restrictions regarding the advertising of prescription-only products to consumers.

The current regulations prohibit advertisements aimed at the public for conditions such as heart disease; diseases affecting the bones, liver, and kidney; rheumatic conditions; and serious skin, eye or ear disorders.

A wide-ranging consultation carried out by the DoH showed that healthcare workers and other interested parties believed such restrictions were no longer necessary, although the ban will only be removed when guidelines for advertisers and information and training for pharmacy staff have been provided.

Lord Warner commented: "Removing the restrictions on promoting non-prescription medicines to the public has the potential to bring real public health benefits by giving more power and information direct to patients."

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency will work closely with health professionals, advertising regulators, and patient and industry groups on the guidelines, which could be ready by the end of the year.

However, some products will continue to be excluded from the newly-relaxed regulations.

These fall into two categories: those that are banned by the EU, and those that have multiple uses.

The first group includes medicines for chronic insomnia, diabetes, and serious infectious diseases.

The second could include the promotion of the painkiller aspirin for secondary prevention of heart attack, and the use of products containing calcium and vitamin D by patients with osteoporosis.

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