The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 269 No 7228 p835
14 December 2002

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PGEU expresses its concerns over PILs

The Pharmaceutical Group of the European Union has added its voice to concerns about the Government's intention to amend legislation on copyright to allow community pharmacists to download or photocopy patient information leaflets (PILs). The PGEU — representing community pharmacists in the 15 member states of the EU — has written to health minister Lord Hunt, asking for a rethink of the proposals.

The PGEU says the photocopying would contravene current EU legislation and argues that there are a number of quality and safety issues associated with copying PILs. Photocopies will not be supplied in original packs and are not, therefore, likely to be kept by the patient with the medicine for future reference. The PGEU also has concerns about the practicability of the idea.

The PGEU Executive Committee is concerned that British citizens would be put at a disadvantage in relation to access to high quality user-friendly authorised information on their medicines compared with other EU citizens.