[Medicines: if their added value is not made explicit.]

Information on added therapeutic value of medicines should represent the basis for therapeutic decisions and ideally, before of that, for drug registration. A recent study assessed the availability and quality of such information provided by Medicines Regulatory Authorities and other national public health institutions in 8 European countries, and of tools facilitating the implementation of such information. This study highlighted for UK and Germany quite an advanced framework of evidence-based, comparative drug information for health professionals, decision-makers and for the general public. Other countries (including Italy) seem far behind. More efforts are warranted to make this information available and to develop sharp formats to make it easier to understand and put in context. Coordinated efforts at European level can help in the efficient production of evidence-based material. Specific plans would then be necessary to favor its local implementation.