title: Reorienting the course of medicines policy: actions are bearing fruit.
abstract: The new European Regulation on pharmaceuticals for human use, which has been under discussion for the last two years, will be adopted in early 2004. Interventions by public pressure groups are beginning to bear fruit: many of the proposals that would have had a negative impact on public health have been dropped, and the drafts are starting to place patients' interests in their rightful place. Vigilance is still needed to prevent any backwards slide, and action is required to obtain further improvements.
mesh_terms: D000329:Advertising / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003256:Community Participation; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D016568:Drugs, Generic; D005060:Europe; D005062:European Union; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
chemical_list: D016568:Drugs, Generic