Drug Act, radical reform according to Xavier Bertrand

Written by Sandeep Nehra

Bill on the drug, presented on Monday morning in the Cabinet, is “a radical reform, early reform” which “clarifies the relationship between the world of health and industry,” said Minister of Health Xavier Bertrand on RTL.

“We will no longer market a drug if it really makes a difference compared to what exists,” said the minister. “Especially if there are side effects of a drug, significant adverse effects, it will take more reluctant to withdraw from the market,” he added.

“When there are questions about a drug, the doubt should benefit patients and not to the laboratories,” said the minister also reiterated in an interview with daily newspaper Le Figaro.

On the issue of transparency in conflicts of interest, Mr. Bertrand assured that RTL would “know everything”. “There will be, just as was done in the USA + the + Sunshine Act to the French: all amounts paid by the pharmaceutical industry to all health actors, both doctors, experts, learned societies, patient groups, all said to be the first euro, “he said.