Among the values of which the pharmaceutical industry is certainly the bearer, in addition to those of investments, research, production and employment, the scientific information service on drugs is certainly particularly important for the improvement of health and quality of life, carried out through drug sales representatives (hereinafter ISF) and intended for the medical profession.
In fact, scientific reps represent the link between those who make drugs and those who use them as a tool for their work.
The pharmaceutical industry is still today the greatest source of culture in the field of drugs not only because it produces them but also because, in connection with it, the best "brains" of science work.
To better understand the reasons and the significance of the attention given to this service by the competent Authorities, it is first of all necessary to dwell on the importance recognized to the drug asset.
On the one hand, the drug is considered one of the most important health protection factors, on the other it is considered a cost factor, which significantly affects the economies of individual citizens and the state.
The sentence of the Supreme Court of Cassation n. 15268/00 dated 01.24.01 clearly expresses the legislator's thinking on both concepts: “The drug is not a common consumer good, the diffusion of which can be expanded up to the limits of market saturation. It is a product that is both useful and dangerous, the purchase of which is not governed by the principle of pleasure but by that of utility. And when prescribing drugs, doctors must adapt to the curative needs” (Annex 1).
To achieve these objectives in our country, the legislator has produced a series of interventions that make the Italian legislation on scientific information on drugs the most complete and strictest in the world¹. This legislation will be further enriched in the near future with the implementation of Directive 2001/83/EC and subsequent amendments.
In fact, according to current legislation, it is defined as:
to) scientific drug information the set of information relating to the composition of drugs for human use, their therapeutic activity, indications, precautions and methods of use, optimal dosages, contraindications, the results of controlled clinical trials concerning efficacy and immediate and long-term toxicity, intended for doctors and pharmacists, with the aim of ensuring correct use of the drug, with reference also to the need to contain the related consumption.
It also has the purpose of collecting in a capillary way elements on the therapeutic and side effects in the use of medicinal specialties and consequently promoting their constant improvement.
b) Pharmaceutical sales representative (ISF) the professional who, in possession of a degree in medicine and surgery, veterinary medicine, biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy, pharmaceutical chemistry and technology, scientific information on drugs (three-year degree), brings the above information to the attention of doctors and pharmacists and ensures its periodic updating.
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