Prescription drugs have brought many benefits for many people, but their marketing is mired in controversy.
Weak government regulation and inadequate industry codes mean that drug companies are using irresponsible marketing to push their pills on doctors, the public and patients.
Who is being targeted?
Doctors
When your doctor writes your prescription you expect them to be thinking only of your health, but behind the scenes they are bombarded by drug company adverts, gifts, visits from sales reps and events sponsored by drug companies.
Public
In most countries around the world (except the US and New Zealand) drug companies are not allowed to advertise prescription drugs to the public, but by using so-called ‘disease awareness’ campaigns and the Internet drug companies are evading the ban.
In Canada and the European Union there is also pressure from media and drug companies to water down or overturn the ban, which could lead to an explosion in the advertising of prescription drugs.
Patients
There is a concern that drug companies are by-passing the ban on marketing to the public by funding patient groups. There is also a danger that they are using their funding to influence the advocacy done by these groups.
Campaigning for proper regulation
Marketing Overdose is campaigning for drug marketing to be properly regulated. We want companies to improve their behaviour and for governments to take responsibility for ensuring drug marketing isn’t a risk to public health.
Why does drug marketing matter?
- Irresponsible marketing exacerbates the misuse of medicines. In developing countries it’s estimated that up to 50% of medicines are inappropriately prescribed, dispensed and sold.
- Vioxx was a heavily marketed pain killer for arthritis patients. But in it’s marketing campaign, Merck, the drug company that made the pill, downplayed the increased risk of heart attack and strokes. Vioxx was finally taken off the market. It is estimated to have caused more than 27,000 deaths worldwide.
- In the US between 1990 and 2004 the number of sales reps increased from 38,000 to 100,000, whilst spending on prescription drugs increased five times in the same period.
