Pharma ads on US network news

[pkt]

Are you annoyed by the Big Pharma ads on your network news? They usu. spend 1/4-1/3 of the time telling you the disclaimers. I sure am and i don't watch that many US network news.

No, this topic belongs here because in order for big pharma to spend the kind of money to do those ads, the US consumers have to pay for them in HIGH PHARMA COSTS. Just like you have to pay a premium for goods that advertise with any Formula One team.

Why do i as a Canadian care about it?

Conside all those Americans who buy pharmaceutical drugs from Cdn internet pharmacies, or come across the US/CDA border to shop for cheaper CDN drugs. Yes, that's good for CDA's trade balance with the US as if we have a trade deficit with the US.

The bottom line is that big pharma have threatened to reduce the sales of their products to CDA.

The CDN Minister of Health has called the practice by MDs who co-sign the Rx issued by American MDs without actually seeing the patients thereby facilitating the internet sale of pharma "unethical".

Two salient points for you to consider and discuss [gee, I sound like a teacher handing assignment. ]:
1. CDA's laws prohibits the advertising of prescription drugs on TV. Over-the-counter drugs such as cough meds, pain killers are OK. Obviously the TV networks want the money from these ads, but so did they with the cigarette ads.

2. CDA bargain as one big purchaser. CDA bargained down the drugs with big pharma. CDA also passed laws allowing the cheaper, no less effective generic drugs.

The Veterans Administration is doing what CDA is doing for the vets, why can't the US do the same for all the US citizens.

OTOH, in Wahsington, i read, the biggest lobby groups are Big Pharma.

Caveat: pls do not blame the lawyers.

PK

[Inquartata]

Are you annoyed by the Big Pharma ads on your network news? They usu. spend 1/4-1/3 of the time telling you the disclaimers. I sure am and i don't watch that many US network news.

Some of the "possible side effects" are frightening as all get out. And half the time you can't quite figure out what the drug is supposed to do---you're just supposed to "ask your pharmacist".

I especially hate those Levitra ads with that smirking woman being coy about what it does for "her man". Ack.

However---free enterprise...

The Veterans Administration is doing what CDA is doing for the vets, why can't the US do the same for all the US citizens.

Because we haven't descended as far down into the pit of socialism as you Canadians.

Yet.

[dunastor]

In the Netherlands public commercial ads are forbidden for prescription drugs.
The whole idea of prescription drugs is that the choice of a drug is made by a professional (ie an MD). The public doesn't have enough specific knowledge of human physiology and the pharmacodynamics and -kinetics of the substances to make a good informed choice themselves.

[Inquartata]

And oftentimes, neither does the doctor. Too little time, too many drugs. The sales reps brief them, and that's about all the info they have time to acquire.

So, in the Nederlands, are they allowed to advertise nonprescription "recreational" drugs like pot and opiates? These are legal, no? Or are they a government monopoly?

[Louweasel]

In the Netherlands public commercial ads are forbidden for prescription drugs.
The whole idea of prescription drugs is that the choice of a drug is made by a professional (ie an MD). The public doesn't have enough specific knowledge of human physiology and the pharmacodynamics and -kinetics of the substances to make a good informed choice themselves.

Same in the UK. What's the point of advertising something the public can't buy? Are you supposed to go to your doctor and tell him what to prescribe you, without your having any medical knowledge? That sounds deeply wrong.

You can only advertise over-the-counter drugs here - the ones you just go out and buy without a prescription, like painkillers etc. Even then you usually have to ask for certain types to be handed to you from behind the counter rather than just picking them off the shelf yourself, and the pharmacist will usually ask you if you have taken it before, and advise you of any precautions (this cough medicine may make you drowsy, you should take this after food, etc.)

What's it like in the US?

[Louweasel]

[QUOTE/]

So, in the Nederlands, are they allowed to advertise nonprescription "recreational" drugs like pot and opiates? These are legal, no? Or are they a government monopoly?[/QUOTE]

I don't think opiates are legal in the Netherlands, are they?

[dunastor]

And oftentimes, neither does the doctor. Too little time, too many drugs. The sales reps brief them, and that's about all the info they have time to acquire.

This is a very cynical view of the medical institution. I do not think it normally works that way (although it might happen some time, I do not think it's common practice in medicine)

So, in the Nederlands, are they allowed to advertise nonprescription "recreational" drugs like pot and opiates? These are legal, no? Or are they a government monopoly?

There are no legal commercial companies (who, exclusively, would be interested in commercial ads on TV IMO) in the Netherlands who deal in pot and/or opiates. Opiates, by the way, are mostly prescription drugs, like morphine etc. Derivatives, like heroin, are illegal, and also not produced by legal commercial companies. Pot is usually homegrown.

Unfortunately I don't know the specific law, but generally the use of marihuana is condoned at the least. Any other drugs, like heroin, XTC etc. are illegal and people who have them or deal them are prosecuted.

[Inquartata]

This is a very cynical view of the medical institution.

"Cynic" is what an optimist calls a realist. -- Sir Humphrey Appleby

[dunastor]

It's not that I'm not cynical, just not as much about the medical profession

[pkt]

[QUOTE/]

So, in the Nederlands, are they allowed to advertise nonprescription "recreational" drugs like pot and opiates? These are legal, no? Or are they a government monopoly?

I don't think opiates are legal in the Netherlands, are they?[/QUOTE]

Haha!

...Religion - the opiate of the people - is allowed to advertise...and legal, not just in most countries, though they rarely can afford to except the evenagelists. But is that religion or just organised money raising enterprises? PTL = pass the loot.

PK

[pkt]

...

Because we haven't descended as far down into the pit of socialism as you Canadians.

Yet.

'Yet' is what you may wish for.

Europe is more socialist than we are in CDA.

PK

[JEC]

As a professional and health care educator, I will tell you a few of the problems.

a) Docs do not have enough time to educate themselves beyond their basic practice, so often they use up to 2 or 3 choices of meds per condition, and if they do not have a response, they refer patients to specialist.
b) Specialty docs, like myself, are useful to select among the many meds for a given disorder, but I am the first to acknowledge to my patients to go back to the PCP for management of X, Y or Z, when it is beyond my specialty.
c) I provide up to 3 educated choices to my patients. Those three are selected by my professional knowledge and experience, but I try to involve my patients in the decision process.
d) An educated patient is the best patient. Patients that seek information beyond what I give them in the end receive better care from the system, as there is less likelihood of mistakes or interactions.
e) Pharma ads by law have to include adverse reactions if they name the product or class of products. However, some ads raise the awareness of a condition for which Pharma eventually benefits. Nevertheless, it results in better care for patients as they now become aware of options.
f) If I wasn't a doc, I will be as cynical as the gentleman that wields that barbaric weapon but with whom I share many views.

[Soldier]

I don't think opiates are legal in the Netherlands, are they?

Haha!

...Religion - the opiate of the people - is allowed to advertise...and legal, not just in most countries, though they rarely can afford to except the evenagelists. But is that religion or just organised money raising enterprises? PTL = pass the loot.

PK[/QUOTE]
Cute sayings aside, there is absolutely no parallel between religion and drugs - and no reason religion shouldn't be able to advertise.

Hypocrites aside, there are many organizations with enough money to spend on advertising, that actually put money to good use - not just for the sake of money.

[dunastor]

b) Specialty docs, like myself, are useful to select among the many meds for a given disorder, but I am the first to acknowledge to my patients to go back to the PCP for management of X, Y or Z, when it is beyond my specialty.

You encourage the use of Angel Dust?

[Inquartata]

I don't think opiates are legal in the Netherlands, are they?

Haha!

...Religion - the opiate of the people - is allowed to advertise...and legal, not just in most countries, though they rarely can afford to except the evenagelists. But is that religion or just organised money raising enterprises? PTL = pass the loot.

PK

LOL!

( plus the inevitable extra characters )

[pkt]

Haha!

...Religion - the opiate of the people - ...
PK

Cute sayings aside, there is absolutely no parallel between religion and drugs - and no reason religion shouldn't be able to advertise.

...

Sounds like something just went over someone's head here...
Duck!

PK

[Soldier]

How am I supposed to be able to tell when you're joking, when you're "joking", and when you're completely serious?