| This book comprises 12 chapters about the pharmaceutical industry’s
relationship with communities and commerce. The author is not afraid
to express his personal views on the major effect trans-national pharmaceutical
companies exert, within industrial societies and in developing countries,
on the health, economic and political processes. He adds his own comments
and suggestions for change.
He outlines clearly the development of the industry from the Middle Ages
via charlatans, through apothecaries, to the sophisticated present of
legislation and ethics. There is a useful section on law dealing with,
among others, counterfeiting, patent protection and the TRIPS agreement.
On these, the author expresses his personal views together with describing
aspects of corporate social responsibility and government. He discusses
the role of the industry in the community both professionally and commercially,
the growing need for honesty and integrity and the pressures brought
upon the industry by its globalisation and activists such as international
charities.
He expresses concern about the ethics of the industry and the control
by professionals, particularly medical directors, and the potential role
of pharmacists. There is an interesting section on standards and ethics
that covers confidentiality, duty of care, integrity and honesty in the
industry. This is a comprehensive and fascinating insight into the development
of the pharmaceutical industry. Many pharmacists will find it readable
and informative and I recommend it to industrial pharmacists particularly
and those at the top of the industry.
Gordon Appelbe
(an independent pharmaceutical and legal consultant and former
head of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society’s law department)
|
The
Pharmaceutical Journal