The United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that p

Question

The United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that permit direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising of prescription drugs. DTC spending by pharmaceutical companies jumped to $4.5 billion by 2014, having increased by 30% of the two preceding years. In 2015, the American Medical Association (AMA) called for a ban on DTC advertising. (read their statement here:  https://www.ama-assn.org/content/ama-calls-ban-direct-consumer-advertising-prescription-drugs-and-medical-devices)

What are the ethical issues involved in DTC advertising of prescription drugs? Should this type of advertising be restricted? What about freedom of speech? What conflicts of interest might be present of which patients are unaware? Who are the stakeholders of direct-to-consumer pharmaceutical advertising?

Explanation / Answer

First of all I would like to give a brief about the DTC Advertising.DTC advertising of prescription drugs is an effort by the pharmaceutical company to promote its products directly to patients.New Zealand and USA are the two only countries who allows DTCPA that includes product claims.Three types of Advertisements are there i.e. Product Claim Ad (provides information regarding medical condition but doesn't reveal the product), Reminder ad (includes product name,provide information about the strength,dosage and price but doesn't make any claim) and Product Claim Ad ( it declare safety claims).

Few Ethical issues involved in DTC advertising of prescription drugs

1.Misinform Patients.DTC advertising may educate consumers about the products to some extent.But a portion of information,they don't reveal as their business strategy.

2. They may mislead patients.

3.It overemphasizes drug benifit.As per the previous studies about DTCPA emphasizes drug benifits over risks.

4.Promotions are done for new drugs before safety profiles are fully known.

5.DTCPA is appropriately regulated by FDA customs.

6.Patients can diminished their trust on health care provider’s clinical decisions.

Despite of above issues DTA advertising have few advantages like :

1.It educates,informs & empowers the patients.

2.It encourages patients to contact with a Clinician.

3.Reduces risks of underdiagnosis and undertreatment.

4.Remove stigma associated with some specific diseases.

5.Provides product in competitive and lower price.

Effect of DTCPA on consumers is both positive and negative.An increased knowledge about DTC advertising will have a crucial implication for public health.The better way to restrict the DTCPA is to maximize the benifits from it and minimizing the risks of it.

Opponents of the practice argue that there is an inherent conflict of interest for pharmaceutical companies in advertising products directly to the unaware patients and that the decision to advertise is not based on concern for the public health but rather investment return.Physicians and other health care providers are often caught in the middle of this debate trying to bridge the divide between consumer perception and medical reality. In order to be successful at this task, physicians need to be optimally informed about direct-to-consumer advertising and its effects on health care practice.

The Stakeholders for Direct to Consumer Pharmaceuticals Ad are

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