Did you know that pharmaceutical advertising is illegal in every country except the United States and New Zealand? Is it ethical for drug companies to advertise?
We watch both local news and national news each evening. Last night we counted at least 10 ads for prescription and over the counter drugs. According to Advertising Age, the average national TV commercial costs around $225,000. So, in a period of one hour, we are viewing over two million dollars worth of ads for drugs that we probably don’t need. Is this unethical, or not?
A study at Harvard revealed that for every dollar spent on advertising, the pharmaceutical companies are rewarded with 4 times that amount in sales. This means that in one hour, the drug companies are making about eight million dollars.
The ads usually show someone enjoying life as a result of taking an expensive drug. Who doesn’t want to be happy, healthy, beautiful, successful, and loved? These direct- to- consumer ads offer hope that a particular drug can help fulfill all of your dreams. No wonder we are an over medicated society!
They run the same ads week after week. How many times have we seen that poor man losing his cell phone because he sneezed? And what about the pretty redhead with her handsome boyfriend, trying on some turquoise jewelry that match her gorgeous eyes? They really milk those ads for all they are worth. Thank heaven for the mute button on our remote. We never, never, listen to their redundant messages.
Studies have shown that 30% of doctors feel compelled to prescribe the drugs that their patients have seen—and asked for– advertised on television. Drug companies have other ways of influencing doctors. It’s still common practice for them to provide gourmet lunches to the doctor’s office staff. (which may be why you smell garlic on the breath of the nurse taking your blood pressure.)
The price of prescription drugs keep rising in the United States, where the law allows them to advertise. Is that why drugs in other countries cost so much less? We used to winter in South Texas, and many winter Texans claimed their entire winter vacation was paid for by the savings they got in Mexico on their prescription drugs.