Drug information by public health and regulatory institutions: Results of an 8-country survey in Europe

• We evaluated drug information from regulatory and other public health institutions in 8 European countries.
• Focus was on type of contents, availability of comparative evidence and accessibility.
• Substantial heterogeneity in available drug information is present among the analyzed countries.
• Coordinated efforts at European level are warranted to assess added value and therapeutic role of drugs.
• Adequate information tools and plans for local implementation are then needed.

PurposeTo evaluate the framework of drug information produced by public health and regulatory institutions in Europe.Materials and methodsWe carried out a short survey asking editors of ISDB bulletins of the European region to indicate the main sources of drug information provided by public health and regulatory authorities in their countries, the specific kind of information produced and their opinions about strengths and weaknesses of such information. The availability of evaluations about the added therapeutic value of drugs and of tools facilitating the implementation of such information were particularly addressed and checked on the websites of those institutions.ResultsAnswers pertaining to eight countries were available. Regulatory information and safety alerts are generally available, but just UK and Germany stand out by showing quite an advanced framework of evidence-based, comparative drug information for health professionals, decision-makers and for the general public. National plans to implement evidence-based drug information seem lacking.ConclusionMore efforts are warranted to develop sharp formats to make evidence-based drug information easier to access, understand and put in context, showing the place in therapy of medicines and their added therapeutic value. Harmonization of different sources, also at European level, would be important to favor their access and limit dispersion. Appropriate tools and specific plans are then necessary to favor implementation of information materials.