English

Video: Conference on ethical drug advertising

A conference on the ethical advertising of medical drugs was held at the health ministry in Minsk on January 31.

Taking part were ministry officials and managers of health institutions and pharmaceutical companies.

Dzmitry Razdzestvenski, a laboratory head at the ministry's Center of Examinations and Tests in Healthcare, said that Belarusian regulations do not allow manufacturers to involve health professionals in drug ads to ensure that consumers do not build up too much trust in the products.

In an interview Deputy Health Minister Valery Shawchuk complained that some health professionals are offered by manufacturers some "moral and material incentives" for the promotion of their products.

He said that a public council should be set up to monitor drug ads, including "direct-to-consumer advertising."