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Doctors Call for Immediate Drug Advertising Ban
According to a major U.S. doctor group, drug companies should stop advertising to consumers directly. The doctors claim that the ads push patients to pursue expensive treatments and inflate the demand for extra therapies.
“It’s a disgusting, dishonorable way to generate sales–but it works. In 2008, the House Commerce Committee found that every $1,000 spent on drug ads produces 24 new patients,1 and a 2003 research report found that prescription rates for drugs promoted with DTC ads were nearly seven times greater than those without such promos.2 Ethics aside, these consumer hustles have proven to be profit bonanzas.” –Dr. Mercola
During a recent vote at the annual meeting in Atlanta, the nation’s American Medical Association decided that they were going to call for a ban on consumer drug commercials in magazines and television commercials.
This vote “reflects concerns among physicians about the negative impact of commercially driven promotions, and the role that marketing costs play in fueling escalating drug prices,” said AMA Board Chair-elect Patrice A. Harris in a statement announcing the votes result. “Direct-to-consumer advertising also inflates demand for new and more expensive drugs, even when these drugs may not be appropriate.”
Consumer Ads
Did you know that marketing directly consumers is illegal in nearly every country except the US? Only one other country is allowed to put up commercials.
The use of ads to market drugs is on the rise. Big pharma spent $4.54 billion on ads in 2014 which is 21% higher than the previous year.
Drug manufacturers claim that ads help the patients learn more about the treatment options of their diseases.
“Providing scientifically accurate information to patients so that they are better informed about their health care and treatment options is the goal of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising,” said Tina Stow, a spokeswoman for PhRMA.
“Research shows that accurate information about disease and treatment options makes patients and doctors better partners.”
Philosophers stone – selected views from the boat http://philosophers-stone.co.uk
Source: http://www.philosophers-stone.co.uk/?p=5605
