Healthy Skepticism Library item: 4361

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: news

Kawachi I.
Where’s the bite?—Six case studies of the voluntary regulation of pharmaceutical advertising and promotion
1992269-287

Abstract:

The first part of this chapter reviews the success and failures of voluntary regulation of pharmaceutical promotion in six countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Sweden, United Kingdom and United States. The conclusion is that self-regulation has failed to curb promotional excesses. There is no country yet in which promotion is satisfactorily controlled by self-regulation. The second part of the chapter outlines some general recommendations for further improvements in regulating promotion. The first step is to set up a code that is comprehensive in its coverage of promotional practices and that is subject to amendment on a regular basis. Monitoring of compliance with the code must be done on a proactive basis rather than waiting for complaints about violations to arrive. Sanctions for code violations have to be effective in detering future violations. Finally, the public has to be involved in the disciplinary process.

Keywords:
*analysis/Australia/Canada/New Zealand/Sweden/United Kingdom/United States/regulation of promotion/ monitoring of compliance/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: COMPLIANCE, SANCTIONS, STANDARDS/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: DIRECT GOVERNMENT REGULATION/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION