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(AFX UK Focus)
2006-08-08 15:26 GMT:
UK govt seeks to cut red tape for over-the-counter medicines UPDATE |
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(Adds details, reaction) LONDON - The government is starting work on a programme to allow the pharmaceutical industry to cut the costs of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and make them available faster. Health Minister Lord Warner said the second phase of the Better Regulation of Over the Counter Medicines Initiative (BROMI) would look at simplifying safety information on packaging. This would reduce "the burden on industry and allowing regulators to focus on medicine safety", he said. Research conducted by the Proprietary Association of Great Britain (PAGB), the industry group, found 300,000 daily consultations with doctors for minor ailments treatable with OTC medicines cost the National Health Service 27 bln stg a year. "The rules governing minor changes to labelling and patient information leaflets can cost individual companies thousands of pounds and these costs are often passed on to the consumer through pricing of OTC medicines," Warner said. The first phase of BROMI has already seen measures introduced to allow simple changes to medicines labels and patient information leaflets without "time consuming administrative assessment", the minister said. "These measures could allow OTC medicines to be maintained at competitive prices and enable industry to invest some savings in continued innovation. "OTC medicines are crucial to patient care. Over 860 mln packs are purchased every year allowing people to treat common illnesses such as hay fever without having to visit a GP." Warner said other areas "ripe" for simplification, including certain manufacturing changes, will also be considered. "Each of these changes will include appropriate safeguards making sure that public safety is not compromised. New ways of regulating OTC medicines can be introduced as these types of medicine contain well-established ingredients whose risks and benefits are recognised." PAGB president John Harold said the new measures "will enable better planning and earlier availability of medicines for consumers when they need them". "The new initiatives will cut costs, improve patient information and public health by freeing regulators to focus their time on the newer more complex medicines where the risks associated with their use are less well known." newsdesk@afxnews.com fp/wj/fp/wj
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