Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3110

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

Medawar C.
Marketing and use of pharmaceuticals—bad information means bad medicine
1982;

Abstract:

Social Audit with help from other organizations has published the first in a series of anti-advertisements. This one deals with Lomotil, a preparation used for diarrhea, made by Searle. The aim of the leaflet is to encourage consumers to take some greater measure of responsibility for their own health. The Lomotil leaflet also points out the problem of double standards between what information is given out in industrialized countries compared to Third World countries. High pressure selling tactics in developing countries can lead to hospitals spending huge sums of money for drugs leaving little money for other purchases.

Keywords:
*analysis/developing countries/Social Audit/Searle/Lomotil/quality of information/ healthcare costs/ hospitals/ marketing strategies/ consumer behaviour & knowledge/health and healthcare/ATTITUDES REGARDING PROMOTION: CONSUMERS/PATIENTS/EDUCATING ABOUT PROMOTION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: COMPARISON BETWEEN DEVELOPING AND DEVELOPED COUNTRIES/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL DRUGS/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE/PROMOTION AND HEALTH NEEDS: PROMOTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES