Healthy Skepticism Library item: 6641

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: book

Lexchin J, Kawachi I.
The self-regulation of pharmaceutical marketing: initiatives for reform
New York: Oxford University Press 1996

Abstract:

All industrialized countries and many developing countries have laws regulating pharmaceutical promotion, but aside from the United States they have all turned over regulation to the industry. Self-regulation while theoretically appealing has not been shown to work well because companies face conflicting values-on the one hand maximizing profit and on the other adhering to the industry code. Even in the United States where there is government regulation resources are not adequate to do the job properly. New methods of regulation involving an escalating pyramid of control and of sanctions and consumer and professional involvement are proposed.

Keywords:
*analysis/developing countries/developed countries/regulation of promotion/United States/Canada/IFPMA/International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations/ enforcement pyramid/ MaLAM/ Medical Lobby for Appropriate Marketing/ Pharmaceutical Advertising Advisory Board (Can)/ industry perspective/tripartism/preclearance of advertisements/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: INDUSTRY/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: REGULATORS AND GOVERNMENT/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/PROMOTION AND HEALTH NEEDS: PROMOTION IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES/PROMOTION AND HEALTH NEEDS: PROMOTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: AUTONOMOUS BODIES/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: CONSUMER GROUPS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: FEEDBACK TO COMPANIES/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION