Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15333

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: news

Repeat form ads banned
Pharmacy Daily (Australia) - registration required 2009 Mar 26
http://www.pharmacydaily.com.au

Full text:

THE Pharmacy Board of Victoria has condemned the practice being used by some pharmacies of printing advertising messages on repeat authorisation forms.

The issue was brought to the attention of the board by a doctor who objected to the use of the white tear-off strip on the righthand side of the forms “to print health messages associated with
an invitation to join a weight loss program.”

The board said the GP objected to the script being used, without the prescriber’s consent, as an
advertising platform for goods and services, adding that “such a practice could conceivably be
extended to arrangements between medical clinics and pharmacies to promote advertising by the clinic.”

The Board said it agrees the practice is inappropriate and “requires any pharmacist using repeat authorisation forms in this manner to cease forthwith.”

A statement also said that the use of additional labels attached to containers of prescribed drugs
which recommend the purchase of other substances “is also unprofessional and may be construed as interfering with the medical treatment of a patient.

“Such actions may be considered as unprofessional conduct by the Board,” it warned.