Abstract

When the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) published its first Data Sheet Compendium in 1974 we welcomed it but noted that it would be much easier to use if the contents were more sensibly arranged and if it included an index of non-proprietary names.¹ Many others have made similar or stronger comments, but until now the ABPI has done nothing. We think it is a waste for the ABPI to distribute this expensive Compendium in a form which is inaccessible for the user who knows only the generic name of the drug he wants to look up.