Healthy Skepticism Library item: 15504

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

Devlin E, Hastings G, McDermott AL, Noble G.
Pharmaceutical marketing: a question of regulation
Journal of Public Affairs 2007 Apr 19; 7:(2):135-147
http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/114211973/abstract

Abstract:

. In recent years, the marketing practices of the pharmaceutical industry have been subject
to scrutiny and criticism. In the UK, prescription-only (PO) medicines cannot be marketed
directly to the public, and marketing to health professionals is self-regulated by the
Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry’s (ABPI) Code of Practice.
. This study uses intemal document analyses to examine the effectiveness of this regulatory
framework. Specifically, a qualitative analysis was conducted of intemal marketing
documents from five UK pharmaceutical companies which were obtained by the House of
Commons Health Committee. This analysis suggests that maf or pharmaceutical companies
are contravening the ABPI Code in four key areas.
. The authors conclude that the current system is not effectively regulating the marketing of
PO medicines to the general public or health professionals in the UK and suggest that the
Code and indeed the whole regulatory procedure needs a thorough review.