Is it right to advertise prescription medications directly to consumers?

Is it right to advertise prescription medications directly to consumers?

The United States and New Zealand are the only countries where drug makers are allowed to market prescription drugs directly to consumers. The U.S. consumer drug advertising boom on television began in 1997, when the FDA relaxed its guidelines relating to broadcast media.

Why do drug companies advertise a prescription drug to consumers?

Proponents of DTC prescription drug ads contend that the ads inform patients about diseases and possible treatments, encourage people to seek medical advice, help remove stigma associated with medical conditions, and provide needed sales revenue to fund costly research and development (R&D) of new drugs.

Why direct-to-consumer drug advertising is bad?

DTC ads increase sales and steer patients away from cheaper generic alternatives. For patients and the the U.S. healthcare system, many experts say DTC ads do more harm than good. The American Medical Assn. has called for an end to the practice.

Why direct-to-consumer advertising is bad?

DTCA may have negative economic, social, and political consequences. DTCA rarely focuses on, and tends to drown out, high-priority public health messages about diet, exercise, addictions, social involvement, equity, pollution, climate change, and appropriate use of older drugs.

Is direct to consumer advertising of pharmaceutical drugs ethical?

DTC advertising of prescription drugs is ethical because it leads to more informed consumers who can partner with their doctors to find the best treatment plans.

What are the positive and negatives of direct to consumer drug advertising?

In the long run, it may be fair to say that the pros and cons of direct to consumer advertising can drive up the health care costs for everyone….The Cons of Direct to Consumer Advertising

• It can lead to false health scares.
• It increases patient costs.
• The side effects a drug may cause are often under-stated.

Do pharmaceutical companies advertise drugs?

The United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world where direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs is legal. DTC drug advertising is where pharmaceutical companies present drug information to the general public through lay media.

Do drug companies spend more on advertising than research?

And a new analysis from AHIP shows that in most cases, more of the dollars spent by drug manufacturers go toward selling and marketing costs than toward research and development (R&D) for new treatments, cures, or expanded indications and uses of existing drugs.