Ms Karin Friis Bach
Danish Medicines Agency, Denmark

Established in October 1999, the Danish Institute for Rational Pharmacotherapy is part of the Danish Medicines Agency, but is formally independent. The aim of the Institute is to provide information on rational drug use in order to improve prescribing habits. The Danish Medicines Agency publishes SPCs, PILs, and monographs, but the Pharmacotherapy Institute publishes treatment guidelines and comparative reviews (in Danish only) on its web site (www.irf.dk). The Institute has access to all studies submitted to the Agency. Their activities include:

• a monthly newsletter;
• courses for GPs;
• cooperation with local authorities;
• lectures, meetings;
• a web site;
• a list server.

On this web site, you can find:

• general information about the Institute, including working plans, strategies, etc.;
• all publications, including the monthly newsletter;
• information on new drugs (evaluations);
• information about courses;
• summaries of meetings, etc.

The information for new drugs is for selected drugs only. It includes:

• evidence of the drug’s effectiveness (summaries of studies) and what is missing;
• a description of adverse drug reactions/interactions and other risks;
• information on prices and reimbursement;
• direct advice on how to use the drugs.

There is also information on prices, e.g., reimbursement status, price changes over time, price comparisons between synonyms or analogues, updated information on prices (searchable by product name, anatomical therapeutic chemical classification [ATC], etc.). Before being published, all information is submitted to the industry for comment.

A list server with more than 300 participants (physicians, pharmacists, industry employees, administrators) is used for providing information on new drugs. It is set up as a chat room, where the participants receive messages and have discussions.

Discussion and comments

There is more promotion than information for consumers. As a result, consumers may receive mixed messages.