Harvey slams generic code
April 22, 2010
LA TROBE University’s School of
Public Health has formally objected
to the proposed Generic Medicines
Industry Association Code of
Practice (PD 13 Apr), saying it is
“considerably weaker (and less
specific)” than the codes of
Medicines Australia and the
Australian Self-Medication Industry.
The university’s Ken Harvey says
the GMiA Code only requires the
reporting of promotional activities
to prescribers and not dispensers,
adding that he believes this is
inappropriate given previous
concern about ‘educational’ events
directed at pharmacists, such as
the controversial Sigma cruises..
He’s also pointed out that fines
imposed under the code are much
smaller than those which apply to
Medicines Australia members, and
also taken exception to the GMiA
process which sees complaints go
first to member companies rather
than an independent panel.
Harvey said the anomalies
highlight issues previously raised
with the variety of “complex and
convoluted co-regulatory systems
for therapeutic claims and
promotional practices”.
He’s also sent the submission to
Parliamentary Secretary for Health
Mark Butler, urging the adoption of
a govt-funded single overarching
Code applicable to all therapeutic
claims and promotional practices,
supported by one monitoring
process, a single complaint and
appeal process and one set of
effective sanctions.
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