Medical Products and the Internet

The feedback on this publication was that the tone is negative, in that the emphasis is more on what not to do rather than what should be done. There is a great deal of poor-quality information on the Internet, but sources of reliable information should be highlighted and users should be assisted in their search for such sources.

WHO will consider the need to review this document and to give good examples, and will try to meet the needs.

Information

Patients, consumers, and health professionals want to know what the good web sites on health information are.

With respect to medical information available on the Internet, DRAs should provide more information to a wider spectrum of audiences. The main target audiences should be more clearly defined and should be able to obtain specific information relating to their respective areas of interest.

WHO Model Web Site

The WHO Model Web Site was well received so far as concept and purpose are concerned. The following suggestions were made.

• A minimum set of information that is related to the core functions of a DRA should be defined, i.e., information that is uniquely available from DRAs should be made accessible - in so far as confidentiality rules and data security allow.

• The model web site should be pre-configured with WHO guideline information and basic data.

• The model web site could be provided with a standard installation of the WHO Model Drug Registration Software.

WHO should revise its current version of the model web site and then start deploying a new version based on the suggestions made by the audience.

Ideally, WHO could assist a selected number of interested countries in establishing a DRA web site based on the revised WHO model. In a further step, these DRA-initiated model web sites could then be validated by a panel of users from different audiences.