New Zealand and the United States are the one high-income countries that allow unfettered direct-to-consumer promoting of branded drugs, including the name of the drug and the condition for which it's prescribed.
our Recent analysis It explores why most other countries outlaw this controversial practice. We review evidence that direct promoting may result in overdiagnosis and unnecessary treatment, resulting in potential harm and better health costs.
Direct promoting of pharmaceuticals, primarily through television and print media, developed within the United States and New Zealand within the Nineteen Nineties within the absence of recent laws or specific restrictions.
After three a long time, New Zealand's legislative vacuum modified last 12 months when the previous government formalized the legality of direct promoting in latest promoting. Treatment product bill. The move surprised many in view of the Labor Party. Historical opposition to practice.
The bill became law in July 2023. But considered one of the present coalition government's campaign guarantees was to finish it, based on concerns about regulation of natural and other low-risk health products.
Government Looks determined. to repeal the law. So far, though, there isn't any indication of what regulatory framework will replace it. And it's unclear whether Health Minister Shane Rattie will renew his efforts to oppose a ban on the practice.
Why Drug Companies Love Direct Advertising
Many medicines for common health conditions are in the stores over-the-counter in supermarkets or pharmacies. They often treat mild conditions, and protected use is comparatively straightforward.
Other drugs are prescribed Prescription only Because their use carries a major risk of harm, especially if used inappropriately. That's why direct marketing for pharmaceuticals often exhorts consumers to “ask your doctor if it's right for you.”
Direct promoting is effective in promoting the prescription of branded and frequently expensive drugs. It represents a vital marketing strategy of the pharmaceutical industry, especially within the US where Billions are spent. Annually on such advertisements.
Because of its effectiveness, firms have lobbied for the expansion of direct-to-consumer promoting to other countries, including the European Union. Until now, health officials have successfully resisted due to concerns in regards to the associated public health risks and rising health costs.
The exception is Canada, which introduced partial direct promoting in 2001 in response to industry pressure. It allowed firms to run “reminder ads” naming the drug but not the condition it's used for.
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Although most studies of direct promoting give attention to high-income countries, there's evidence that the practice also occurs in low- and middle-income countries, even when technically illegal.
There was a notable example. Documented in Sri Lanka In 2000, a drug company persuaded the National Medical Association to co-sponsor anti-obesity advertisements in newspapers. He then encouraged those that responded to the ads to ask their doctors in regards to the company's only weight-loss drug.
In Turkey, mass promoting of prescription-only smoking cessation drugs led to the suspension of drug licenses. Turkish doctors also paid attention to the upper Risks of loss Related to low education levels, and poor enforcement of prescription-only status in Turkey and other developing countries.
Other countries resist direct promoting.
The almost universal prohibition of direct promoting is taken into account a health protection measure, especially for newly marketed drugs.
In a ___ 109 Study of new drugs Approved within the US, most premarket clinical trials treated fewer than 500 patients — too few to detect infrequent but necessary antagonistic effects.
In general, drug-related harms are a typical but preventable explanation for emergency department visits and hospitalizations. It addresses the rationale for treating pharmaceuticals in another way, including how they're advertised.
gave Global return The arthritis drug Vioxx (rofecoxib), one of the advertised drugs during its five years in the marketplace, raised these safety concerns. Vioxx increased the danger of heart attacks, however the manufacturer continued to advertise the drug to the general public within the U.S. and New Zealand long after internal company documents. indicated an increased risk of death..
The ban will help improve health care.
Direct promoting affects the doctor-patient relationship. This leads patients to hunt drugs they can't obtain unless their doctor agrees to issue a prescription. Effects include the time taken to debate the goal condition, which can or may not warrant clinical intervention, and the advertised treatment, which can or may not reflect best practice.
strong Evidence It now appears that direct promoting can result in unnecessary, inappropriate and sometimes harmful prescriptions. This practice may encourage patients to self-diagnose or misinterpret their symptoms, which contributes to unnecessary diagnostic testing and treatment.
Although direct promoting may entice patients with previously unreported symptoms to go to physicians and discuss treatment options, physicians generally view this practice as an unwanted distraction from clinical work.
Professional bodies And User groups New Zealand and elsewhere have expressed strong opposition to direct promoting.
But the industrial success of direct promoting has seen intense industry efforts to defend, develop and expand the practice. The pending repeal of New Zealand's Therapeutic Goods Act provides a timely opportunity to handle the legality of direct promoting of pharmaceuticals.
It stays to be seen whether the federal government shall be convinced by the available evidence that banning direct promoting will help control health costs, by reducing overdiagnosis, unnecessary treatment and harm. It will assist in promoting the health of the population.