The European Parliament is set to vote on plans to allow pharmaceutical companies to provide information directly to patients with certain conditions.

The European Commission has suggested that patients with Aids, asthma and diabetes should be allowed to obtain 'disease education' information from drug manufacturers.

The current ban is unfair and unjust and is not in the best interest of patients

ABPI spokesman

The commission says its proposals will ensure that all patients can access the information they want.

But members of the parliament's environment committee have tabled an amendment to prevent the move from going ahead.

Some MEPs have warned that it would be the first step towards allowing pharmaceutical companies to advertise directly to patients.

The committee maintains that the pharmaceutical industry is incapable of providing impartial information on its medicines and that such information should only come from independent sources.

Concern

They are also concerned that the proposals would not give patients access to information about non-medical treatments and that the consumption of drugs will rise.

That view is backed by the Consumers Association in the UK.

Wendy Garlick, the CA's principal health policy adviser said: "Our own research clearly demonstrates an urgent need for patients and carers to have access to good quality, unbiased and comparable information about medicines.

"However, we do not believe the pharmaceutical industry can be trusted to provide this."

We do not believe the pharmaceutical industry can be trusted

Consumers Association

But a spokesman for the European Commission said: "Nothing is further from our minds than wanting to introduce direct pharmaceutical advertising to patients."

He added: "Patients will have been properly evaluated and vetted. There is a demand on the part of patients across Europe to have this information."

The spokesman said the policy would only apply to three conditions so as not to stoke demand.

"These are chronic conditions. Making information available to patients will not increase demand," he said.

The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry called for the current restrictions to be lifted.

A spokesman said the commission proposals would allow companies to provide information to patients who wanted it.

He dismissed suggestions that it was the first step towards allowing companies to advertise directly to consumers.

"This has nothing to do with advertising drugs on television or radio. It is about giving information to patients.

"The current ban is unfair and unjust and is not in the best interest of patients," he told BBC News Online.

Chris Davies Liberal Democrat MEP for the North West of England, has campaigned against any moves to allow direct advertising of pharmaceutical products.

He said such advertising would exploit those most susceptible and was not comparable with conventional marketing techniques.

"Someone in pain, or diagnosed with a debilitating illness, is vulnerable in a way that is different from someone who is going shopping for a new car or a loaf of bread."

Mr Davies said patients should be able to obtain impartial information about medicines available, but he argued that competing claims by rival manufacturers would create confusion not better understanding.

He said: "Those who want to be better informed about the drugs available should be able to get objective information from health centres, local libraries, and the internet. What they don't need is slick and glossy advertising intended primarily to sell expensive drugs rather than make people better."