According the Washington Post, “A growing number of drug firms are trying their luck with social media tools” such as Facebook, YouTube (Symbicort), Twitter (Novartis), blogs (Alli) and MySpace (Reckitt Benckiser).

“One of the early adopters in the pharmaceutical industry was Merck, which posted a Facebook page last year to promote Gardasil (…) Another was GlaxoSmithKline, which used a humorous YouTube video to call awareness to restless legs syndrome…” (…)

“The FDA is watching the development with interest.”

Drug Firms Jockey for Space Online. By Francesca Lunzer Kritz, Special to The Washington Post, Tuesday, June 16, 2009.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/12/AR2009061203230.html

Disclaimer: The video quality sucks. The last 4 1/2 minutes are mute. But the information is clear and its the only video of its kind on the situation in Australia. It also sheds alot of light as to why Australian delegates seem to be pro-Pharma so often. Don’t hate the Australians, its not their fault. In fact, the situation that occurred there in 2003 with the JTA Treaty seems oddly similar to the situation in the US where DSHEA  was developed to save us and also was attacked because it did. It also shows how even the countries which consider Supplements as Medicine are vulnerable to the Codex Alimentarius Commission’s legislation. [I've noticed some things that aren't entirely true in this video...so I suggest that you watch it, do some research and see if you can tell ME what those "stretches" are. However, the documents she refers to are real and the quotes she makes are true.

Here's a summary if you're too impatient to watch it I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE! Remember though, the details are in the video...so watch it.]

Eve Hillary – Australian Health Freedom Now Activist

The Misinformation Campaign: How Health Care Interest Groups disseminate information with bulletins and fact sheets where the information does not address the truth of the treaties and committee meetings.

The Difference between natural medicine and Pharmaceutical medicine

Natural Medicine:

-Oldest medicine- For centuries people have used herbs, plants, and tinctures to prevent and cure illness and disease

-The safety margin of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants consumed for centuries as preventative medicines is higher than any other safety level

-Natural medicine is safer because historically, the body discards excess of intake for vitamins (eat as many oranges as you want! The excess vitamin C will just be passed)

-Example) Rose petals cured Black Plague

Pharmaceutical Medicine:

-Developed in 1940’s & 1950’s with IG Pharbon, Merck and other pharmas developed out of Chemical Industry from Germany from WWII.

-Deficiency conditions don’t exist for medicinal drugs like vitamins

-$Billion multi-national industry (answering to no-one)

Development of Democracy in Australia:

-Laws which reflect community standards

-Parliament established Statutory bodies for healthcare

-State medical boards, Health Department and the TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) which oversees Drugs, Chemicals, Nutrients (Nutrients added in 1999)

Development of the Global Elite (Whatever you want to call “Them”):

-Corporations, Global Elite (World Bank), Has developed instruments of influence by accessing Multi-national organization like the UN, WTO, WHO etc.

-Pressure from Global Elite is in Parliament through lobbying, campaign donations,

-> Laws are emerging that do not reflect the interest of the community, but of the other entities “Global Elite”

Result: The Emergence of Corporate Medicine, Compulsory Treatment:

Ex) Health Department and Department of Community services: Vaccinations- if a parent doesn’t want them to have it, there is no recourse because the Pharma Company develops the vaccine and lobbies the Health Department which requires Vaccinations and then the Dept of Community requires Children to be vaccinated & Tax Payers subsidize the Pharma’s Charge for vaccine.

TGA (Therapeutic Goods Administration) States that Supplements are regulated as drugs (Occurred in 1999, Complimentary Medicines Committee established in order to “sort out supplements”)

-For years, the TGA inspected supplement manufacturers finding no problems. No breaches of safety or quality were found from 1999-2002

-In 2003, the first problem with Supplements occurred in Australia with the Pan Pharmaceuticals Recall of Travacalm. (A Microdose product) The 4^th largest supplier and manufacture of supplements with 1700 other natural products, and some pharmaceuticals.

In the middle of their voluntary recall, TGA swooped in and raided Pan.

-Doors closed, not allowed to fix problem, were shut down, the liquidator was called in and within 6 months, the liquidator had sold the $500 million company for $20 million [This isn't true...to my knowledge Pan was simply fined $10 million http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24373843-23289,00.html].

-Health food stores went bankrupt while they recalled most supplements.

-Reports indicate that TGA went into other companies, closed them down and required the owners to undertake agreements (NDA) relinquishing their licenses out of intimidation, and promised not to publicize while also paying compliance costs. Also agreements that the companies wouldn’t sue the TGA if the process cost them $

-Numerous tests showed supplements 100% safe, but instead they were gathered up in a pile and disappeared.

-2 weeks after PAN Recall, an “Expert TGA Committee” was formed in order to make recommendations that could result in amendments to the TGA Act and in other laws.

-Individuals on the committee: part of them were also on the Pharmaceutical advisory council like Reps from Wyeth, a pharma for vaccines and some supplements: (Supplements sales in China kept them in the black)

-ASMI-Australian Self Medication Industry- Global Organization (each country has a branch) members included: Bayer (President) Wyeth, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), SmithKline Beecham Pharma (SB), Boehringer Ingelheim (BI), SATO, Beiersdorf, Proctor and Gamble, DEL, Pan Pharmaceutical

-

JOINT TAZMIN AGENCY TREATY

JTA Treaty Signed 2003- by Australia and New Zealand,

“Joint Tazmin Agency Treaty” “Agreement between government of Australia and government of New Zealand for establishment of a joint scheme for regulation of therapeutic products.”

-Implementation not set.

-Will abolish the TGA. Brought into an international jurisdiction making Australia privy to Codex guidelines.

-Treaty has a Corporate structure:

Direct Quotes from Treaty:

“Therapeutic use: Preventing diagnosing curing or alleviating a disease, ailment, defect or injury in humans. Influencing, inhibiting or modifying a physiological process in humans,” (makes water a therapeutic good).

“To avoid trade barriers: Leveling the competition: Article 6: The board is established by the chairman, the managing director of the agency, a person with broad experience to health and regulatory matters in New Zealand and another person in Australia.  And a person with broad experience in Commercial matters.” (Obviously invintes Pharma)

-When there is an off-shore corporation regulator and on-shore Commission that means you have to have an advertising team: Tran Tasman Advertising Scheme

(same as ASMI members) and stakeholder meetings ensued about the advertising code.

After signing the treaty, the commission (in order to make official) asked AMA to give a submission authored by Dr. Robyn Napier, (pg 2) (After Treaty had been signed)

“This process has largely occurred without the knowledge of the public. The process is occurring against a backdrop of enormous pressure on a number of fronts including PBS spending.” (The Tax-payer buying drugs for the people) Also concerned about opening up direct to consumer advertising. Making prescription drugs into over the counter drugs so that they can advertise them.

Codex Alimentarius: 27^th session report:

Proposed Draft guidelines for Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Determining upper levels

TGA- fact sheets tell you that there is not a step by step process

Apply to Food, Vitamin and Mineral Supplements

Agenda item 10: Risk Analysis

12 Pharmaceutical Representatives in 2003 found on the committee

When you received your PJ this weekend a flyer will probably have fallen to the floor (as it did in my house) about the 2008 Pharma awards. Last year we sponsored the community pharmacist of the year award but this year we have persuaded the organisers of the Pharmas to award a Locum Pharmacist of the Year Award for which PL-UK are the proud sponsors.

Nominations can be made for locum pharmacists from any sectors and can be made online if you follow the link below.

http://www.pharmawards.co.uk/nomination-form.htm

It’s about time that the profession recognised the key role that Locums perform and I’ve put my money where my mouth is so please nominate away!!

If you have any good examples of locum practice please feel free to use this Blog as way of celebrating the excellent work that locums do every day across the UK