Pharmaceutical companies in the U.K. have increasingly violated a voluntary industry marketing code but complaints are also taking longer to review, according to a new analysis. As a result, the researchers argue that the growing number of infractions and inadequate policing are harming public health due to unsafe or unethical business practices.
Between 2004 to 2021, the Prescription Medicines Code of Practice Authority, a self-regulatory body overseen by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, ruled on more than 1,100 cases involving nearly 160 companies where there was a breach of the industry code. And in 20% of those cases, the PMCPA found a company had committed misconduct that tarnished the industry’s reputation and reduced public confidence in drugmakers.
Moreover, such instances have occurred more frequently. From 2004 to 2018, there were 11 such rulings each year, but this figure rose to 25 episodes in 2019 involving 25 companies, 30 instances the following year in which 23 companies were cited, and 23 cases in 2021 involving 16 companies, according to the analysis published in the journal Regulation & Governance.
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