Regulating the regulators

Using the SSRIs as an exemplar, Medicines out of Control? argues that the relationship between “the pharmas” and the regulatory authorities is far too close; that the pharmas are influential, manipulative and secretive; that they sell their products using unethical methods; that their excesses have...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Lancet (British edition) 2004-06, Vol.363 (9427), p.2199-2199
Main Author: Collier, Joe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antidepressants
Democracy
Legislation
Public health
Regulatory agencies
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Using the SSRIs as an exemplar, Medicines out of Control? argues that the relationship between “the pharmas” and the regulatory authorities is far too close; that the pharmas are influential, manipulative and secretive; that they sell their products using unethical methods; that their excesses have become more marked as their profit margins have been threatened by a failure to invent new products; and that US pharmas are influencing the conduct of those elsewhere. [...]the position of industry and regulators has been reached with the collusion of governments, which have either passively allowed public health to become secondary to the health of industry, or have actively introduced personnel, practices, or legislation that further industry's interests. Because regulation is so specialised, democratically accountable Ministers have delegated key decision-making to the regulators, thus ultimately favouring technocracy over democracy.
ISSN:0140-6736
1474-547X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)16529-X