Posted on 11/17/2015 4:51:34 PM PST by markomalley
The American Medical Association on Tuesday called for a ban on consumer advertising for prescription drugs and medical devices, saying such marketing could be driving demand for unnecessary expensive treatments.
The Chicago-based association said it adopted a policy supporting an advertising ban and called for greater transparency in prescription drug prices and costs. The policy was adopted by physicians at an AMA meeting in Atlanta.
"Today's vote in support of an advertising ban reflects concerns among physicians about the negative impact of commercially driven promotions, and the role that marketing costs play in fueling escalating drug prices," Dr. Patrice A. Harris, the AMA's incoming chair, said in a statement.
Last year, drugmakers spent $4.5 billion on consumer advertising, a 30 percent jump from 2012, according to Kantar Media, a market research firm that specializes in media consumption.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Likewise.
Another one of their ad’s i don’t get!
Maybe like why they always had two beds on those old time tv shows?
"Picture yourself in a boat on a river. With tangerine trees and marmalade skies...."
Seems to be trying to convince many w/o real problems that they may be helped with the drug - if they can survive the side-effects.
I also love to see the fine print where it says, "We don't have a freaking clue as to how it works or what it really does - it just seems to make this happen or not happen". Who in their right mind would want to be putting that crap in their bodies?
What’s up with the two bathtubs?
As you say, the bottom line is $$$$. The pharmaceutical companies need to create an awareness of their new drugs, and in so doing create a market demand. Many of these drugs have more than one use, so they pick the use that would get your attention the most, hoping you will tell your doctor about it.
In the past, drug companies were not allowed to advertise on TV and radio, so they had to depend on salesmen calling on doctors, giving out 'free samples' and traveling all over the country trying to get their products into the hands of physicians and hospitals. They also used medical journals and magazine ads to try and inform their 'customers', the doctors, of their new drugs.
But doctors are busy people, not having the time to meet with every snake oil salesman that calls or shows up at their office door, or read trade magazines that pile up on their desks and eventually wind up in the trash can. Another way was to 'invite' groups of doctors to cool places like Hawaii, Miami, Orlando and even the Bahamas, to meet their representatives and get a 'free vacation' at the companies expense, while plying them with food and drink, they would be bombarded with the sales pitch.
All these methods were effective, but slow and expensive. They lobbied Congress for years to get the ban on TV and radio ads repealed and were eventually successful.
The new TV ads now can reach their targeted audience and create the awareness that they want in just seconds, instead of months and years. They can get ads on the cable channels cheaper than the air broadcast networks and the Internet is full of their ads as well.
Kinda of goes against the message doesn’t it?
Lol!
Yeah, I suppose.
:)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.