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Centad is organising a national consultation on ‘Consumer Drug Information in India : A Situational Analysis', on March 29, 2007 at India Islamic Cultural Centre, Lodhi Road, Delhi.
The consultation was prompted by the lack of drug information available to consumers. Drug information is a consumer's basic right. The pharmaceutical sector is unique in that, here, choices regarding drug consumption are made not by the patient who is the ultimate consumer but by the doctor prescribing the medication. However, this does not take away from the necessity of providing drug information to the consumer.
Information on medication and treatment helps the consumer become aware, make informed choices with respect to his/her health, ensures adherence to medication and encourages the practice of rational drug use.
Consumer drug information would include the following: drug composition, brand and generic names, indications and contraindications, rational and irrational drug combinations, price comparisons, dosage, side effects, precautions, drug use in special conditions such as pregnancy, storage conditions, expiry date, and dietary habits associated with the medication.
Apart from information exclusive to drugs, there is also the need to provide information on medical devices, other forms of treatment, and information on the disease/medical condition itself.
In the current scenario, drug information directed at consumers is limited in terms of quantity, quality and reach. Unlike other products, sources of information specific to drugs are limited. There is also no single source or database that deals exclusively with consumer drug information. The main sources of information are the government, civil society organisations working with health issues and consumer issues, pharmaceutical companies, etc.
Information is provided mainly in the form of books, booklets, magazines, journals and academic papers, brochures, leaflets distributed with medicines, medicine labels, posters and online information. The level of information is either basic or incomprehensible.
In order to discover the current state of provision of consumer drug information, and its nature and reach, Centad has undertaken a study to survey the information being provided to consumers, channels through which this is being done, and the actors responsible for providing it.
The objectives of the national consultation are: - To share and discuss the findings of the above study.
- To critically examine the study and seek inputs for improvement.
- To hold an informed discussion on the current situation of consumer drug information in India.
- To deliberate recommendations for addressing the problems identified with issues of consumer drug information.
- To formulate an action plan to implement these recommendations.
- To bring together various stakeholders concerned with the subject, including medical professionals, pharmaceutical associations, pharmaceutical companies, civil society organisations working with health and consumer issues, WHO experts, and concerned ministries of the Government of India.
Click here to see the draft agenda.
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