§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has received a copy of the rational health declaration of Oxfam concerning the marketing practices of British companies in third world countries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 20 February 1984, c. 430–31]: The Government fully support the endeavours of the World Health Organisation to help developing countries set up rational health policies. We are always prepared to offer advice, assistance and relevant information to the Government of a developing 262W country that approaches us directly. In addition, information about United Kingdom drug licensing decisions and reports of adverse drug reactions are given on a regular basis to the WHO, which operates a world-wide drug information system.
On marketing, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association has drawn up a code of pharmaceutical marketing practices to which the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, representing British-based pharmaceutical companies, conforms. The World Health Assembly has discussed the IFPMA code and seems to accept that it should be allowed time to demonstrate its effectiveness.