Should drug information be an integral part of health care?

The fact that the effects of drugs are incompletely known makes special demands on drug information for the public. Much of this information is marred by poor content, choosing target groups by likely sales, and giving drug-centred rather than health-centred information. These problems arise from the imbalance between the relative quantities of commercial and independent drug information, the separation of drug information from health education, and strong commercial and professional interests. Suggested solutions include setting standards, integration, and using pharmacists to distribute drug information. Such actions may, however, create new problems. It might be necessary or desirable to regulate the quantity, forms and sources of commercial drug information aimed at consumers. Drug information should be regarded as an integral part of health care and treated accordingly. Furthermore, the widening range of substances used to influence health, shrinking prescription requirements, biased reporting in mass media, and national industrial priorities are changing the drug information scene and demand new solutions.