Patients must have better access to high quality information on prescription drugs in the future, MEPs  decided today. The European Parliament strives for more freedom for patients who want to be informed about prescription-only drugs.

The basic pillar of the legislation is to ensure the availability of objective, reliable and non-promotional information on medicines to protect patients' health care.

Jorgo CHATZIMARKAKIS (FDP, Germany) says: "In the age of Wikipedia the far-reaching prohibition of information on prescription-only drugs is no longer appropriate. As a patient and consumer, the ability to inform oneself from certified sources is a major progress. The next step is to create efficient supervision systems which ensure common quality standards in order to guarantee high quality publicity-free information."

"The Parliament's position adotped today brings some significant impovements to the initial Commission's proposal, notably by setting a clearer framework for the provision of information to patients on medicinal products. Patients have a right to information, but we need to ensure that this information is understandable, transparent and objective, while keeping in mind that medicines are not simple consumer goods", added Parvanova Antonyia. (NMSP, Bulgaria)."

The European Parliament and patient's rights organisations have been demanding such a regulation for a long time. Simplified access to proofed information shall increase the treatment's success, as better informed patients are more inclined to better understand decisions about their treatment and to follow up with necessary medical treatment. With this regulation, unequal standards within Europe will be harmonised, and trustworthy sources of information will be created.

At this point the internet is used extensively for both search and distribution of information, however with such uncontrolled sources from product advertisement it is often impossible for the consumer to discern the origin of the information.

The Directive and Regulation establish the mechanism which introduces for the first time harmonised rules on the provision of information on medicinal products subject to medical prescription to the general public.