Healthy Skepticism Library item: 3451

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: Journal Article

Lexchin J.
Pharmaceutical promotion in Canada: convince them or confuse them.
Int J Health Serv 1987; 17:(1):77-89

Abstract:

Currently, drug companies are spending in excess of $200 million annually on promoting their products to Canadian physicians. Although the industry has adopted a voluntary code of advertising practice, this has not prevented gross excesses in all forms of pharmaceutical promotion: drug-company sponsored continuing medical education, and promotion through the public media, detailers, direct mail, sampling, and journal advertising. Not only does advertising add to the cost of drugs, but physicians’ reliance on information conveyed through advertising leads to poor prescribing and consequently to significant adverse health effects for patients. Reforms of promotional practices are possible, but the initiative is unlikely to come from either the medical profession or the government.
Pressure applied through an emerging grass-roots movement is the best hope for change.

Keywords:
*analysis/Canada/promotion costs and volume/regulation of promotion/ Code of Marketing Practices (Can)/ Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Canada/ press conferences and releases/ sales representatives/ direct mail/ drug samples/ journal advertisements/ quality of information/ quality of prescribing/ doctors/ continuing medical education/ corporate funding/health and healthcare/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DETAILING/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: DIRECT MAIL/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: JOURNAL ADVERTISEMENTS/EVALUATION OF PROMOTION: SAMPLES/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE/INFLUENCE OF PROMOTION: PRESCRIBING, DRUG USE/PROMOTION AS A SOURCE OF INFORMATION: DOCTORS/PROMOTION DISGUISED: SUPPORT FOR CME/REGULATION, CODES, GUIDELINES: INDUSTRY SELF-REGULATION/VOLUME OF AND EXPENDITURE ON PROMOTION Advertising*/methods Advertising*/standards Canada Drug Industry* Education, Medical, Continuing Humans Mass Media Periodicals