Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3293

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

Van DER.
Marketing myths: selling drugs in the Third World
Medicine in Society 1985; 2:(2):41-45

Abstract:

A number of myths are continuously created about the circumstances under which pharmaceutical products are marketed in developing countries by multinational pharmaceutical companies. The myths provide the drug manufacturers with an excuse to continue their marketing policy. Four of those myths are discussed in this article: 1) that manufacturers can guarantee the safety of their products and the adequacy of their information; 2) that they can withdraw or correct the information on certain drugs if the need arises; 3) that prescription-only drugs are indeed purchased with a doctor’s prescription; and 4) that there is a clear distinction between the private and public sector of drug distribution.

Keywords:
*analysis/developing countries/myth/research-based manufacturers/health and healthcare/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE/PROMOTION AND HEALTH NEEDS: PROMOTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES