The Fifty-first World Health Assembly (Resolution WHA51.9, May 1998) requested the Director-General of WHO to develop a guide on medical products and the Internet. The guide was intended to serve as a model for Member States to adapt into locally meaningful advice for Internet users in order to help them to obtain reliable, independent and comparable information on medicinal products. The guide in this booklet has been prepared to meet the Health Assembly request. It has been developed in consultation with drug regulatory authorities, drug information experts, consumer organizations, and the pharmaceutical industry. It is a model guide, designed to be translated into national languages and modified as the local situation may require.

WHO would be grateful to receive any comments on experience gained from the practical use of the guide which would help in developing it further. Contact information appears below.

Department of Essential Drugs and Medicines Policy (EDM)
World Health Organization
1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland
email: reggiv@who.int

Finally, national health authorities - such as drug regulatory agencies - and WHO are working together to address the illegal advertising and sale of medical products through the Internet. It is important that Internet users report suspected illegal activities and problem cases to their national health authorities.