Healthy Skepticism Library item: 522

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: Journal Article

Shapiro MF.
Regulating pharmaceutical advertising: what will work?
CMAJ 1997 Feb 1; 156:(3):359-61
http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/reprint/156/3/359

Abstract:

As Dr. Joel Lexchin makes painfully obvious in this issue, regulatory processes governing pharmaceutical advertising in Canada and elsewhere are seriously compromised. However, the remedial measures Lexchin proposes are not sufficient. Financial sanctions against improper advertising are likely to be regarded by manufacturers as the cost of doing business, and any regulatory body that includes drug industry representatives or individuals receiving financial support from the drug industry cannot be genuinely independent. Moreover, manufacturers are now using promotional strategies that are particularly difficult to regulate. These include providing drugs at lower than the usual cost to ensure their inclusion in managed-care formularies, and using direct-to-consumer advertising to take advantage of the public’s lack of sophistication in interpreting scientific evidence. Our best hope of counteracting the power and influence of the drug industry lies in regulation by government agencies, whose interest is the protection of the public.

Keywords:
*editorial Canada guidelines, discussion of Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board (Can) Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada regulation of promotion preclearance of advertisements REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: COMPLIANCE, SANCTIONS, STANDARDS REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION