
Shai Mulinari
Docent | Universitetslektor

Authors’ reply to Fell
Författare
Summary, in English
Fell sees the increasing number of breaches of the ABPI code ruled over time as a positive development, as it “shows that people feel confident using the self-regulatory system to raise concerns.” Although this interpretation is certainly possible, the obvious counterpoint is that the increasing number of breaches primarily shows that many companies are engaging in unethical marketing, which can hardly be seen as positive.
Furthermore, although some people exposed to unethical marketing do submit complaints to the PMCPA, most do not, as we point out in our article. In other words, there is most likely a large under-reporting to the PMCPA. In addition, people might be submitting complaints to the PMCPA just because it is the only way to complain about company misbehaviour (as the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency strongly encourages people to complain to the PMCPA).
Finally, although it is true that the total number of complaints from individuals to the PMCPA has gone up in recent years, a detailed breakdown shows a very marked decrease in complaints from competing drug companies. It would be concerning if this was because companies do not feel confident in using their own self-regulatory system to raise concerns.
Avdelning/ar
- Sociologi
Publiceringsår
2023-11-02
Språk
Engelska
Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie
British Medical Journal
Volym
383
Dokumenttyp
Artikel i tidskrift
Förlag
BMJ Publishing Group
Ämne
- Sociology
Aktiv
Published
Projekt
- Following the money: cross-national study of pharmaceutical industry payments to medical associations and patient organisations
ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt
- ISSN: 1756-1833