THE RATIONAL USE OF MEDICINES

A short description is given of the interplay between the pharmaceutic al industry and its critics regarding the rational use of medicines si nce the 1960s. This was especially vigorous in the developing countrie s but also had ramifications in the industrialized world. The initiati ves taken by the World Health Organization in starting a dialogue betw een the industry representatives in the International Federation of Ph armaceutical Manufacturers Associations and the critical voices of Hea lth Action International are specially emphasized. The recent developm ents in the therapy of primary hypertension and peptic ulcer are discu ssed briefly as examples of the rapid changes in what should be ration al in pharmacologic treatment of disease.