(copied as fair use)

Financial Times 3 June 2002

Public says ban on drug adverts should remain
By Nicholas Timmins, Public Policy Editor
Published: June 3 2002 5:00 | Last Updated: June 3 2002 5:00

The public wants to retain the ban on the advertising of prescription drugs, the Consumers' Association said yesterday as it released an opinion survey.

It shows that almost 60 per cent of the public believe that if advertising were allowed, pharmaceutical companies would try to convince people they had illnesses they did not have.

More than 80 per cent believe the companies would focus advertising on their most profitable products and only a quarter believe they could be trusted to provide unbiased and comprehensive information treatments - including non-pharmaceutical alternatives.

The European Parliament will this week debate European Commission proposals to allow pharmaceutical companies to provide more "information" to patients on a trial basis.

Although the measure appears to stop short of endorsing advertising, in three areas - treatments for HIV/Aids, asthma and diabetes - pharmaceutical companies will be able to provide information directly to the public in a five-year trial starting in 2004.

The Consumers' Association said it feared this could be "the thin of the wedge" that led to open advertisements for prescription drugs in the US and in New Zealand.

Almost two-thirds of respondents were concerned that companies would not provide sufficient information about possible side effects.

"People need balanced and comparative information to make informed choices about drugs," said Jackie Glatter, a senior public affairs officer with the association. " B u t they simply do not trust drug companies to tell the whole truth. This survey sends a clear message - the moves to relax laws governing advertising of prescription drugs must be stopped immediately."