Advertising of drugs
ACCORDING to a report, the bylaws that the city government of Karachi plans to introduce to regulate private healthcare institutions will also seek to curb the unethical advertising of any product/facility which is not scientifically accepted.
This is a welcome move. If one were to believe the claims made by the ads that have been appearing on various television channels, one should never worry about falling ill. The many ‘miracle drugs’ advertised make tall claims about the wonders they perform. After the availability of such easy cures, one is forced to ask why diseases are so rampant in this country. The fact is that the drugs advertised are spurious and many actually harm people’s health. Hence the need for a ban. It is wholly unethical for the media to propagate these so-called magic cures just to earn some easy bucks.
The impending bylaws should prohibit the publicity of any drug in the media, even if it is scientifically accepted. It is time everyone, including the government, were reminded of the importance of the Drug Act of 1976, which is still in force. To protect consumers from the onslaught of advertising by manufacturers, the law bans the advertising of drugs and treatments in the media except in medical journals that are read mainly by health professionals. This is based on the precept that in health matters the consumer is not qualified to decide about the medicines that are suitable for him, this being a decision to be taken by his physician/surgeon. Given the onslaught of the market economy and the preponderance of the advertising business, it would be ethically and morally wrong to allow the pharmaceutical companies to play with the public’s health by encouraging self-medication which is on the rise and which would receive a fillip if drugs are freely advertised.
Source: Dawn
Date:3/20/2007
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