Paper Topic:

Direct-to-Consumer Drug Advertising Does not Enhance Patient Choice

Running head : Essay

Does Direct-to-consumer marketing increases patients choice

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Traditionally , the drugs were marketed towards the doctors and there was a limit to the direct to consumer marketing . This was because of the fact that television advertising for such products was highly expensive The expensiveness of these television commercials was due to the regulations of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA . Prior to 1997 all direct-to-consumer advertisements that contained a medical claim and

br brand name had to have a brief summary of drugs effectiveness , side effects and contraindications . But in the August of 1997 , Food and Drug Administration allowed the advertising of drugs without a brief summary though a major statement still had to be added , which had to educate the consumer about the major risk and refer him to other sources for detailed information . They were number of departures from the requirements under the Food , Drug , and Cosmetic Act of 1938 , which had prohibited the use of print and television media for advertising prescription drugs . This change in the regulation brought about a change in the promotional activities of the drugs manufacturing companies There was an increase in the advertising expenses of these pharmaceutical companies from a mere US 800 in 1997 to about US 29 .8 billion in 2007 . The supporters of the direct-to-consumer advertising emphasis that , such promotions help the consumer in understanding the symptoms of many under-diagnosed diseases . While...

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