Here is a selection, arranged chronologically, of positions and statements from the Medicines in Europe Forum, since the publication of the European medicines legislation in 2004.

A complete Dossier, "Medicines in Europe", is available on the "Prescrire in English" website. Click here.

Pharmacovigilance in Europe: the European Commission’s proposals endanger the population (October 2009)
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Future Commission: need for change in health goods governance (October 2009)
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EMEA transparency policy falls short: a weak and irresponsible project (September 2009)
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EU Commission's proposals on pharmacovigilance dismantle the entire system (June 2009)
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Legal proposals on "information" to patients by pharmaceutical companies: a threat to public health (March 2009)
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Pharmaceutical package: a short-sighted vision that puts patients at risk (March 2009)
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Recast of the European Medical Devices Directives: an opportunity to reinforce patient safety (July 2008)
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"Patient information" by pharmaceutical companies comes up against almost unanimous opposition from civil society (June 2008)
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Pharmacovigilance in Europe:
overwhelming opposition to the EU Commission's proposals (June 2008)
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Time to act for Patient Safety in Europe (May 2008)
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The European Commission's "proposal on information to patients" will boost drug sales not serve patients' interests (April 2008)
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Direct-to-consumer communication by pharmaceutical companies (March 2008)
European Commission pushes ahead despite civil society's opposition.
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New European pharmacovigilance legislation:
getting it right (February 2008)
A response to the EC's public consultation on legislative proposals for pharmacovigilance.
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EU Commission persists in putting pharmaceutical companies' interests before public health (July 2007)
EU Pharmaceutical Forum: public health is not its overriding priority.
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European Pharmaceutical Forum's working group on information to patients: a sham consultation process (May 2007)
The Medicines in Europe Forum is concerned that the questions that accompany this consultation frame it in such a way as to prevent any real democratic debate and to predetermine the type of responses that are likely to be received. This creates yet another sham consultation process, designed to justify a long-term plan for legislative change aiming to remove the ban on direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs.
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Relevant Health Information for Empowered Citizens (December 2006)
If patients are to be able to make informed choices about their health, there needs to be a clear distinction between information and advertising that is disguised as information". A joint declaration by HAI Europe, ISDB, AIM, BEUC and the Medicines in Europe Forum.
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Advanced therapy medicinal products (April 2006)
The position of the Medicines in Europe Forum regarding the draft regulation of the European Parliament and Council on advanced therapy medicinal products, amending Directive 2001/83/EC an Regulation (EC) 726/2004.
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Draft regulation on medicines for paediatric use (July 2005)
Environment and Health Commission: it is encouraging to see that patients' interests (in this case children's interests) have finally been taken on board by a number of European members of Parliament.
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Medicines for paediatric use: take the necessary time to improve an important project (May 2005)
Open letter to Members of the Environment and Health Commission
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Medicines for paediatric use (January 2005)
The draft regulation on paediatric drugs presented by the European Commission in autumn 2004 centres on the financial concerns of pharmaceutical firms and on technical measures intended to meet these concerns. It leaves the initiative entirely in the hands of drug companies and neglects the overriding public health objective, which is to provide every possible means of treating children better.
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The conditional marketing authorisation procedure (January 2005)
The development of new drugs is not the chief priority among possible measures designed to tangibly improve the health of European citizens.
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©Prescrire 1 November 2009