Comments for Consumers
This page/column contains information which may be of interest to consumers. The information is based on articles which appear in Australian Prescriber. As Australian Prescriber is written for health professionals, you should discuss any issues raised by this page/column with your doctor or pharmacist. They will be able to give a more detailed answer to your questions by reading the main article.
Australian Prescriber is unable to comment on individual cases or give second opinions.
Australian Prescriber Vol. 27 No. 1 2004
Drug company advertising
In Australia drug companies are not allowed to advertise prescription medicines directly to the public. This does not prevent them from providing information about the conditions the medicines are used for. Advertisements encourage people to see their doctors. The doctors may then prescribe the company's medicine.
In New Zealand and the USA drug companies can advertise to the public. Millions of dollars are spent to tell people that there is a medicine for their problem. People could be encouraged to seek a medicine for being fat or bald, as well as for diseases they may not have.
This 'direct-to-consumer' advertising is sometimes misleading. The information from the drug companies can be biased.
More advertising seems to result in more prescriptions. This can be expensive for governments and the public.
The European Union has decided not to allow direct-to-consumer advertising. There does not seem to be a good reason to lift the ban in Australia.
