MIMS investigates claims
December 16, 2010
MIMS has responded to concerns
raised over the publication of
“potentially erroneous and
harmful” information on Listed
Medicines supplied in its product by
drug sponsors (PD yesterday), by
saying it “will investigate mechanisms
to highlight the TGA assigned
status of a medicine that will better
inform the healthcare professionals
using the MIMS products”.
The concerns, voiced by Adjunct
Senior Lecturer Dr Ken Harvey from
the School of Public Health at La
Trobe University, were raised after
he complained to the TGA over the
publication of promotions for Ethical
Nutrients’ ‘Urinary Tract Support’.
According to Harvey the claims
made in the promotions had a lack
of verifiable evidential support.
In response to his complaint, Harvey
was informed that selected chunks
of the promotional material were
taken directly from MIMS, and which
he later discovered were supplied to
MIMS by the product sponsor.
“MIMS includes the content and
indications of Listed Medicines, as
supplied by the sponsor, in good faith,”
a spokesperson from MIMS said.
The particular medicine to which
Harvey refers to is listed in the
ARTG as ARTG No 104924.
“It is a requirement under the
Act that the sponsors of Listed
Medicines hold information to
substantiate all of their product’s
claims,” the spokesperson said.
According to the TGA the
indications/claims made in relation
to therapeutic goods must be
supported by evidence and
“sponsors of products carry the
primary responsibility to ensure
that indications/claims made
about products are true, valid and
not misleading in line with these
standards, under the Listing system
for medicines.”
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