For Immediate Release, April 1, 2004
 >From Women and Health Protection
New government report on prescription drugs calls for immediate ban on
drug advertisements,
more transparency for drug trials
National women's health organization praises report findings, demands
government action

Women and Health Protection (WHP), a national watch-dog group of
Canada's drug regulatory system,
heartily applauds the report on prescription drugs released today by the
federal, all-party Standing
Committee on Health. The report follows the committee's cross-country
hearings on public response to key
issues concerning prescription drugs.
The key recommendations of the report, tabled today in the House of
Commons, mirror many promoted by WHP
and include calls for:
1) Increased transparency in how clinical trials are conducted.
2) Increased resources for post-market surveillance of adverse drug
reactions.
3) Immediate prohibition of all industry-sponsored advertisements
of prescription drugs to the
public, including reminder ads and help-seeking messages.

"We are delighted to see the recommendations of this report," said Anne
Rochon Ford, spokesperson for
Women and Health Protection. "They are a true reflection of what we feel
a critical public is saying
about the current state of drug regulation in this country. The system
is badly in need of enforcement
of those parts of our legislation that truly protect the public, and
requires significant change where
things are failing."
The proposed ban on direct-to-consumer advertising will be particularly
welcomed by a host of consumer and
professional groups who have been concerned about the increase in ads
over the past five years.
"This is good news for women's health," says Ford, "coming in the same
week as a private member's bill calling
for a breast implant registry. These are exactly the kinds of changes
the women's health movement has been saying
are needed."
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For media interviews, contact:
Anne Rochon Ford
Coordinator, Women and Health Protection
Email: [log in to unmask]
Phone: 416-482-6591
Women and Health Protection: www.whp-apsf.ca

Kathleen O'Grady
Director of Communications
Canadian Women's Health Network
Email: [log in to unmask]
Phone: (514) 886-2526
Canadian Women's Health Network : www.cwhn.ca


Mona Dupré-Ollinik, BSW, BA
Coordonatrice de liaison/Outreach Coordinator
Canadian Women's Health Network/Réseau canadien pour la santé des femmes
419, avenue Graham, Suite 203
Winnipeg (MB) R3C 0M3

Tel: (204) 942-5500 ext,/poste 13
Fax/Télécopieur: (204) 989-2355
Toll free/Numéro sans frais: 1-888-818-9172
www.cwhn.ca
e-mail/courriel: [log in to unmask]

TTY 204-942-2806
TTY toll free number 1-866-694-6367

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