Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4317

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

Bleidt B.
Recent issues and concerns about pharmaceutical industry promotional efforts
Journal of Drug Issues 1992; 22:407-415

Abstract:

Promotional efforts put forth by pharmaceutical manufacturers have accomplished their intended purposes-greatly expanding demand. The strategies and tactics employed are ethical, in most circumstances; however, questions are frequently raised about the possible unscrupulous nature of some methods. Inquiries have been made recently about just how moral some of these activities are and regulatory actions takne against those found to be unacceptable. The drug industry uses many unique promotional techniques that have been evolving over the past several decades. Discussed in this article are such powerful tools as video news releases, “pseudo-scientific” sessions, information exchange programs, using multiple sales forces, and self-competition, among others. The resulting furor over these operations has brought about changes in order to counter the abuses that have occurred. In the realistic view, though, due to the high stakes involved, promotional evolution will continue and new approaches developed, raising different, yet similar, questions. The answer lies within the target markets, prescribers and other practitioners through questioning and maintaining the normal adversarial nature expected in a fiduciary relationship.

Keywords:
*analysis/United States/relationship between medical profession and industry/ doctors/ press conferences and releases/American Medical Association/AMA/Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (US)/regulation of promotion/sponsored symposia & conferences/sales representatives/patent status/gift giving/conference speakers/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: GIFT GIVING/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: LINKS BETWEEN HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND INDUSTRY/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENT FOR MEALS, ACCOMODATION, TRAVEL, ENTERTAINMENT/ETHICAL ISSUES IN PROMOTION: PAYMENTS IN STUDIES/PROMOTION DISGUISED: APPOINTMENTS AND RETAINERS/PROMOTION DISGUISED: COMPANY SPONSORED SPEAKING TOURS AND CONFERENCE SPEAKERS/PROMOTION DISGUISED: POSTMARKETING RESEARCH/PROMOTION DISGUISED: PRESS CONFERENCES AND PRESS COVERAGE