Healthy Skepticism Library item: 5730

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

Chirac P.
Drug advertising must be more strictly controlled
Prescrire International 1994; 3:(13):160

Abstract:

Drug advertisements aimed at health professionals are vetted in France by the Agence du Médicament after they first appear. Experience shows that present legislation and the way it is applied leaves drug companies with too much room for dishonest manoeuvre. Present penalties do not appear to modify behaviour, as many companies are regularly sanctioned. It is also clear that bans and demands for amendments have little impact, as the modifications are generally stipulated once the advertisement has served its purpose. Finally, health professionals are not kept informed of sanctions by their journals, most of which are largely financed through drug advertising. If retrospective controls are to be effective, they must be applied rapidly and enforced rigorously. In addition, this approach can only work if journals which have published advertisements are made more responsible, with the obligation to publish any sanctions and amendments stipulated by regulatory agencies. Dissuasive sanctions are a necessary complement to self-discipline on the part of drug companies, who will have no incentive to adopt strict ethical practices unless they see competitors being severely sanctioned for producing misleading publicity.

Keywords:
*editorial/France/promotional literature/doctors/regulation of promotion/enforcement pyramid/la revue Prescrire/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: COMPLIANCE, SANCTIONS, STANDARDS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION