Description
Should the United States Congress continue to allow DTCA in the pharmaceutical industry?
FOR: You will be arguing that the US should allow DTCA in the pharmaceutical industry.
summarize the key issues, provide background, and acknowledge both side of the debate. Provide evidence/facts and your opinion as to why you are recommending that the Senate take certain action on this policy.
Here is a little background of this assignment,
Direct-to-consumer advertising (DTC Advertising) refers to the direct marketing of pharmaceutical products to patients, rather than to healthcare professionals. Every developed nation in the world, with the exception of New Zealand and the United States, has banned direct advertising of pharmaceuticals to consumers.
Amongst other arguments, the US drug industry says that DTCA advertising helps “educate” consumers of potential conditions and encourages them to see their doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Amongst other arguments, critics say that DTCA results in over-diagnosis of a condition, inappropriate use of prescription drugs, and inflated prices of US pharmaceutical drugs. As a result, DTCA unnecessarily drives up the overall cost of healthcare without necessarily improving the health of those treated.
Describe direct-to-consumer-advertising in the pharmaceutical industry, its legislative history, and its overall impact. What are the ethical and regulatory concerns regarding DTC advertising? Should the United States Congress continue to allow DTCA in the pharmaceutical industry?
Please review material and let me know if you have any questions. Use APA citation. 3-4 pages. Thanks!
Explanation & Answer
Attached.
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Running head: DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING (DTCA)
Direct-To-Consumer Advertising (DTCA)
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Institution:
Course Code:
DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING (DTCA)
DTCA in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Direct-to-Consumer Advertising in the pharmaceutical industry refers to the
efforts made, especially through popular media, by pharmaceutical companies as a means of
promoting their products to patients directly. All countries, except for the United States and New
Zealand, prohibit the DTCA. Canada, for example, does not allow advertisements that refer to
either the indication or the product, but not both. Other countries have exclusively outlawed
DTCA (Ventola, 2011).
Legislative history
The pharmaceutical companies in the United States have been practicing DTCA
for as long as prescription drugs have been in the market. In 1962, the United States Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) was given the mandate to oversee DTCA during the KefauverHarris Amendments. The duty of the FDA, in this case, was to regulate drug labeling and
advertising. During the 1980s, there was a surge in print DTCA. This was aided by a combined
effect of a political environment that was suitable for deregulation, the rise in patient
proactiveness with regards to decision making, and the FDA’s guidance of 1985which
established the form in which risks could be summarized in print media (Wang & Kesselheim,
2013).
The “fair balance” issued by the FDA for DTCA – which required a summary of
all risks associated with the products whenever a claim was made about them – increased the
cost of broadcast advertisements of prescription drugs. In 1997, however, there was a change
when the FDA provided a document containing the necessary guidelines. This document ...
