Consumers do not believe drug companies would provide unbiased information about treatments if they were allowed to advertise their products directly to the public, according to a new survey published by the Consumers' Association.

The European parliament is in the process of debating proposals to relax the ban that prevents pharmaceutical companies advertising prescription drugs directly to the public.

Forum Response: Consumers' Association

Jackie Glatter, senior public affairs officer at the Consumers' Association, told ePolitix.com: "People need balanced and comparative information to make informed choices about drugs, but they simply do not trust drug companies to tell the whole truth."This survey sends a clear message to the UK government and the European parliament - the moves to relax the laws governing advertising of prescription drugs must be stopped immediately."