MHRA warning on special offer medicine promotions
Pharmaceutical companies and retailers have been warned by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency not to promote medicines using multibuy offers, such as “buy one, get one free” or “three for the price of two”, if the products concerned include aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Price competition and special offers on medicines became possible when
retail price maintenance on medicines was terminated in 2001. Subsequently,
restrictions on the pack sizes of medicines containing aspirin and paracetamol
were introduced in an attempt to reduce impulsive overdoses. The MHRA
is now concerned that volume-based price promotions could undermine the
intent of legislation restricting pack sizes.
Manufacturers’ medicine promotions are currently controlled under
a voluntary code administered by the Proprietary Association of Great
Britain. This could be threatened if inappropriate special offers are
made.
The MHRA says: “This is an area of voluntary action but we closely
monitor price-related promotions involving analgesics.” It adds
that ministers have made it clear that if price-related promotions pose
a risk to public health, then legislation could replace self-regulation.
The warning is contained in the March/April 2004 issue of Mail (Mail
142). |
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