How we operate - Services to members

PAGB co-ordinates and represents the views of the industry in discussions with government and stakeholders.

The views of the industry are established:

• By engaging with member companies through task forces and sub committees where companies who are interested come together to develop a concensus
• By circulating consultation documents and preparing responses for agreement by companies
• By one on one discussions with companies where confidential briefings can be given

The industry’s views are represented to government and stakeholders in:

• Responses to consultations
• Meetings with government agencies, stakeholder bodies
• Conferences and seminars organised by PAGB or other organisations
• Publications

Legal & Regulatory Services
The Association provides advice to its member companies on all aspects of regulations, including advertising regulations and the PAGB Codes of Advertising Practice. This extends to:

• Confidential advice on regulatory, pharmaceutical, food supplements and legal issues
• Presentations and mailings to members - provately or at members' meetings
• Guidelines and position papers on areas of relevance to industry
• Preparing industry positions and programmes, where necessary, for particular OTC ingredients and product categories
• Approval system for OTC medicines and food supplement advertising aimed at consumers. Advice is given in relation to relevant codes, statutory requirements and the product licence where applicable. Feedback is usually provided within 24 hours.
• Training in requirements for OTC medicines and food supplement advertising. Click on workshops to find out more

The continuation and expansion of self regulation as the means to control the marketing of over the counter medicines and food supplements is promoted by:

• Participation on the CAP (Committee on Advertising Practice) Committee, CAP Code Review Group, Medicines Liaison Group (MALG) and the CAP Code Administrator's Committee
• Development and regular updating of codes of advertising practice covering advertising to the public and to health professionals, herbal medicines, promotion of medicines
• Promotion of the Code of Practice for Pack Design
• Workshops to promote self regulation to newcomers to the industry
• Participation in the MHRA Better Regulation of Over the Counter Medicines Initiative (BROMI)

Health Policy & Public Affairs
The promotion of self care and self-medication and the appreciation of its role in underpinning health care in Great Britain is done by:

• Responding to government consultations and working closely with government departments on policies dealing with self care and self-medication
• Building partnerships with medical, pharmacy, nursing, patient and consumer bodies and airing issues of common interest
• Building the evidence base for self care through research
• Regular briefings on industry issues with politicians, civil servants and party policy makers
• Impact assessments of the business of parliament and of policy documents from government departments (including health, finance, education, food and rural affairs) and NICE

Communications

• Proactive and reactive public relations and media communications on industry issues
• PAGB corporate communications include PAGB annual review and a weekly e-newsletter giving an update of PAGB's activities and a summary of the major news in the OTC sector
• Operation of the Consumer Health Information Centre (CHIC) and Health Supplements Information Service (HSIS) which provide clear and objective advice to consumers and the media on health issues
• The chance to include your product ranges in the OTC Directory and on Medicine Chest Online. The OTC Directory is ditributed to all GP surgeries and other selected healthcare professionals

Other Services

• PAGB Conference rooms
• The PAGB Professional Learning Programme leading to the PAGB Diploma in OTC Healthcare
• Research into self care education, self care access and other topics
• Members' briefing meeting