Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) is defined as “the different types of prom

Question

Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) is defined as “the different types of

promotional efforts employed by pharmaceutical companies to provide

prescription drug information to the general public through consumer-oriented

media that includes the promotion of prescription drugs through not only lay

media; but also via other emerging and sophisticated media such as website and

social media” (Limbu et al., 2013).

DTCA of prescription drugs is allowed currently only in the US and New Zealand.

Question:

Should Direct-to-Consumer Advertising be banned in the United States?

Why or Why Not?

(Hints: You should discuss its pros OR cons in greater detail to support your argument)

Explanation / Answer

It should ban in us as it is blamed for encouraging so called off- label uses of drugs, that is to say uses not approved by FDA and USA regulators.

DTC ads have been shown to mis inform patients by over emphasizing treatment benefits, under emphasizing treatment risks and promoting drugs over healthy life style choices. DTC advertising may also lead to overutilization and inappropriate prescribing

Perhaps the most significant critique of DTC advertising is its effects in raising drug costs due.to over- prescribing of both inappropriate and brand name drugs ( especially when cheaper generics are available) ..

It is also shown that FDA guidelines are not prescriptive enough in terms of extent and format by which quantitative benefits and risks should be presented.

However proponents of DTC advertising report that dyrg ads can serve many important roles for consumers. First they empower and engage patients to patients to participate in their own health care through informing patients about disease, treatment options, safety risks, and public health warning. Second, they maey avert underuse of effective disease treatments and potentially increse medication adherence. Finally they may strengthen patients' relationship with their physicians. Surveys conducted by the FDA in 2004 found that most surveyed physicians felt that DTC advertising made their patients more aware of treatments and feel more engaged in their own helath care

So there are many opportunities as well as critics of DTC

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