Looking through the latest issue of Public Citizen Health Research
Group’s “Health Letter,” I learned that at present the United States
and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that allow
direct-to-consumer (DTC) promotion of prescription drugs. I didn’t
know this, and assumed that such ubiquitous ads had become commonplace
world-wide.
I remember a time when prescription pharmaceuticals were not promoted
to the public, and when medical professionals and attorneys did not
advertise as they do nowadays. According to a “Health Letter” article,
1996 marks the year when ads for prescription drugs were unleashed on
the public. This has resulted in patients pressuring their physicians
for the latest medications they see advertised. This encourages the
companies to turn out new drugs, which according to the article, have
“weaker safety records” and are “driving up the cost of health care.”
The pharmaceutical companies have been so successful in their
strategy in the United States that they are seeking to introduce DTC ads
in Europe, since the rejection of their first attempt in 2002.
According to the World Health Organization, when it comes to overall
healthcare quality the United States ranks 37th. So, I guess the
public’s health hasn’t improved much since they started asking their
doctors for all those medications they see advertised!
Also visit:
http://www.all-creatures.org/health.html
