Disease awareness campaigns

Attention is drawn to the Disease Awareness Campaigns Guidelines produced by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. 

Disease awareness campaigns permissible to the general public they must not reference a specific product or therapy class Advertising of medicinal products aimed at health professionals is allowed. The advertisement must be submitted to AFSSAPS within 8 days of its publication... 

French law prohibits the advertising of POMs to the general public but does permit (pursuant to Article L5122-1 of the French Public Health Code) disease awareness campaigns. Disease awareness campaigns must not refer direcdy or indirectly to a specific product or therapeutic class. 

Disease awareness campaigns are a recognized and approved way for pharmaceutical companies to communicate with the general public. Disease awareness campaigns may make reference to treatment options, but need to carefully avoid highlighting any specific medicinal product, as this would be viewed as promotional. Any promotion of a particular medicinal product will bring the campaign within the scope of the Community Code (Directive 2001/83), and violate the law. 

MHRA Disease awareness campaigns guidelines. Guidance note no. 26, June 2003. 

A company may conduct a disease awareness or public health campaign provided that the purpose is to encourage members of the public to seek treatment for their symptoms while in no way promoting the use of a specific medicine. Particular care must be taken where the company s product, even though not named, is the only medicine relevant to the disease or symptoms in question. 

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