Healthy Skepticism Library item: 2261

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: report

Meek C .
Direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines: A review of international policy and evidence
Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain 2001 Nov
http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/dtcarep.pdf

Abstract:

The Council of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) has today decided its position on the issue of direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription medicines. The Council recognises that further developments in DTCA are likely, and it will revisit the issue as necessary. The Council’s position is:
“The demand for information about prescribed medicines from patients and the public is likely to increase, but DTCA is unlikely to be the best way of providing it because the aim of advertising is to persuade, not to give balanced information about benefits and risks. DTCA, moreover, carries a significant risk of exposing more patients to the adverse effects of new drugs. If DTCA is successful, it may well adversely affect doctor-patient relationships, distort public health priorities and disrupt the cost controls operated by the NHS. The Society therefore supports increased provision of balanced information to the public, while taking into account the above points.”

Keywords:
*policy statement/United Kingdom/New Zealand/United States/DTCA/direct-to-consumer advertising/Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain/doctor-patient relationship/National Health Service/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS/PROMOTIONAL TECHNIQUES: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING/REGULATIONS, CODES, GUIDELINES: AUTONOMOUS BODIES

Notes:

59 pages plus 3-page supplement at http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/pdfs/dtcarev.pdf
Good source of information on DTCA, including history (appendix 2)