The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 270 No 7236 p216
15 February 2003

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Consumers' Association: The Future of Patient Information (more)

Training in medicines information should start in schools, says CA

Medicines information should be incorporated into the school curriculum as one way of improving the information patients have about their medical treatments, according to the Consumers' Association.

In a new report, "Patient information: what's the prognosis?", the association says that patients receive an increasing amount of often conflicting information about health and medicines. It recommends:

• Having a central source of impartial information

• Setting information quality standards

• Strengthening the communication skills of professionals

• Improving patient information leaflets

• Promoting excellence in information provision

If medicines information were introduced into the personal social health education and citizenship part of the national curriculum then children would develop an awareness of, and respect for, medicines, the report says. However, the pharmaceutical industry would have to be prevented from exploiting this initiative for marketing opportunities, it adds.

The report suggests that the National Health Service Information Authority should become the central source of information, run in liaison with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society and the new Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency. This would be funded by a levy on the pharmaceutical industry. However, the Consumers' Association says that the NHSIA will "need to reduce its present level of bureaucracy" if people are to have faith in it.

Patient information leaflets (PILs) need to be heavily reformed in order to provide clear, concise, meaningful and explanatory information. PILs should be available in different formats (including audio or video tapes) and should be tested on patients for understanding before being released, the report recommends.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry said that patient information leaflets have become part of the regulatory process and cannot provide all the information patients want. "Patients have a fundamental right to request and receive infomation from any source they choose," the ABPI said.

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society said that the profession was working on medicines management initiatives that would support pharmacists in their role of providing information to patients.

"Patient information: what's the prognosis?", Consumers' Association, 2 Marylebone Road, London NW1 4DF, price £20 (tel 0800 252100 quoting "PAINFO")