22/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on 16 June, a group of organisations which includes the European Public Health Alliance, the Association internationale de la mutualité and the BEUC (which represents consumers), welcomed the results of the EPSCO Council of 9 June, during which its health component discussed the new pharmaceutical package. These organisations welcomed the fact that the ministers criticised the approach of the Commission, which they believe made it possible for the ban on the advertising of prescription drugs to be lifted. During this debate, the ministers reiterated their criticism of the costs incurred by the health-care systems and on checks on the objectivity of information distributed by the laboratories themselves. Six Member States called on the Commission to replace this text with a proposal providing for better labelling of drugs, more comprehensible information sheets and improved communication between health care professionals and patients. These organisations asked once again that when the Commission is renewed, the drugs dossier be removed from the DG Enterprise and given to the DG in charge of health issues. (O.J./trans.fl)