As most of this blog's readers are aware, last Thursday and Friday the FDA held an important meeting on social media and internet marketing. For two-full days, representatives of the industry (click here for PhRMA's testimony), agencies and patients presented to FDA's Division of Drug Marketing, Advertising and Communications on how technology and Web 2.0 have dramatically changed the way health information is exchanged.
For those of us who have been deeply involved in this space, most of the testimony did not cover new ground but it did demonstrate how extraordinary are both the opportunity and challenges presented by the explosion of digital communications and user-generated content. A central question is how best to ensure patients have truthful, balanced information about treatments--in our case, prescription medications--in such an expansive, and ever-evolving medium. A corollary question is what our proper role should be in making this happen.
FDA should be applauded for holding this meeting--and listening patiently to some 76 presentations! It is clear the agency will need time to digest all that has been presented (the docket is open for comments through February 28, 2010). The meeting was a great time to connect with friends and colleagues from across healthcare who share our excitement with how new media is transforming health care communications. We look forward to working together with all of them and FDA toward developing a framework that results in the absolute best outcomes for patients and their caregivers.
(PS: Our friend Bob Pearson has posted a very comprehensive overview of the meeting here.)
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