Editor, – I enjoyed reading the commemorative issue of Australian Prescriber (Australian Prescriber - the first 30 years, Aust Prescr 2005;28:120-2). I did not know of the 'near death' or even the year the journal disappeared. It just goes to show the struggle we have in trying to provide unbiased drug information in the face of enormous biased commercial interest.
One important fact missing from the article was the role of Australian Prescriber in the Asia-Pacific region. We in drug regulation and as teachers of clinical pharmacology in medical schools really appreciate copies of Australian Prescriber . The articles are avidly read by medical students (especially when prompted that examination questions may be based on them) and even by drug regulators in the region. For example, when evaluating a new chemical entity submitted for registration, reviews of the drug evaluation by Australian Prescriber are included in the dossier and provide a very important supportive tool for the regulators.
I would therefore like to add the congratulations of many people in the region to the Australian Prescriber on its 30 years. We hope that the journal will continue to be an independent source of information for our region for many more years.
Krisantha Weerasuriya
Regional Adviser, Essential Drugs and Other Medicines
World Health Organization South-East Asia Regional Office
New Delhi
India
