Healthy Skepticism Library item: 16570

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: Broadcast

Mares P
The medicines regulation headache
National Interest : ABC Radio National 2009 Sep 25
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/nationalinterest/stories/2009/2696989.htm

Abstract:

The marketing of medicines in Australia is in a mess — both when it comes to prescription drugs and alternative remedies sold over the counter.

By law, advertising of prescription drugs is not allowed — instead pharmaceutical companies sponsor conferences and education sessions for doctors — raising serious concerns about their influence on clinical decisions — an issue we discussed a couple of weeks back on the National Interest.

When it comes to complementary medicines — including things like homeopathic vaccines or miracle fat zapping treatments — different rules apply to different media. Ads on TV or in newspapers are subject to pre-approval but, on the internet, it’s more or less a free-for-all.