Healthy Skepticism Library item: 20476

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: Magazine

Ideas for Action: MLAM
New Internationalist 1984 Apr29
http://newint.org/features/1984/04/05/action/

Full text: Medical Lobby for Appropriate Marketing 22 Renaissance Arcade Adelaide SA 5000 Australia

AIMS

To inform Doctors, Pharmacists and the general public about inappropriate, international marketing causing danger to health in the Third World.

To create an informed lobby to encourage transnational companies to improve their. marketing practices.

METHODS

Every month lobby members receive a summary of the problem with one product and positive suggestions for improvement. Members then sign and send their summaries as a letter to the company responsible. Topics covered include dangerous drugs, dangerous advertising of useful drugs, pesticides and infant milk formulas. MLAM focuses on transnational companies which operate in Australia.

SUCCESSES

MLAM is able to present an issue in a way that makes it easy for people to act. We have achieved standards of research and presentation which are convincing for sceptical doctors.

FAILURES

We don’t yet have enough contacts with people in the Third World who can keep us informed of changes in dangerous marketing in their country.

FUTURE PLANS

After initially concentrating on building up membership in Australia we plan to expand membership throughout the world.

HELP NEEDED

Please send us any examples of ongoing dangerous marketing in the Third World. Sending physical evidence e.g. a misleading advertisement with source and date is the best way to help. If the information is useful we will pay for any expense incurred.

Please join MLAM