There’s only one scenario that tops sitting comfortably in the privacy of your own home to be insulted or disgusted by drug ads on TV and that’s being bombarded by them in someone else’s home — or worse yet — in a public place on a “big screen”.
I have been disturbed by the specter of big pharmaceutical ads on television for some time. I must admit that the advent of Cialis and Viagra only exacerbated an already-existing bias; but, all that aside, haven’t we had enough of this?
Not only do these ads account for billions of dollars that could be better spent in research and development, but they also seed a really bad habit. There are those who, despite being fairly well, desire attention from the medical community. TV ads that describe conditions in great detail can inspire those with little medical knowledge to cite symptoms chapter and verse at the next doctor’s appointment. Oops! Dare I suggest corporate-influenced hypochondria?
After going to professional sources, I am relieved to learn that I am not alone in my opinions. Many who know the pharmaceutical business inside and out feel much the same way.
An article printed in 2008 cited that a study by two York University researchers estimated that the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spends almost twice as much on promotion as it does on research and development, contrary to the industry’s claim.
The researchers’ estimate is based on the systematic collection of data directly from the industry and doctors during 2004, which shows the U.S. pharmaceutical industry spent 24.4% of the sales dollar on promotion, versus 13.4% for research and development, as a percentage of US domestic sales of US$235.4 billion.
The research is co-authored by PhD candidate Marc-André Gagnon, who led the study with Joel Lexchin, a long-time researcher of pharmaceutical promotion, Toronto physician, and Associate Chair of York’s School of Health Policy & Management in the Faculty of Health.
It is hard to imagine the man-hours lost to drug representative visits in doctors’ offices nationwide. You’ve glimpsed them. Slickly coifed and impeccably clad, they saunter in with trays of food or wrapped gifts — as you and the other patients wait for the doctor. Many doctors, disgusted with the interruptions, have banned all such visits during office hours.
Add to this dilemma the angst of listening to the long list of adverse affects from the advertised drugs and you can see how far this has gone over the past few years. My favorite is an oft-aired side effects question. “If you have experienced any of these (problems with a drug), stop taking the medication and contact your doctor immediately.” Of course, that warning followed a list that included death. Now, if someone has experienced death and obeys this instruction, I want to be there to see that encounter!
And the future….? Well, who knows at this point? As for me, I wish the large pharmaceutical companies would leave diagnostics to the doctors and channel their dollars marked for advertising toward a powerful combination of both lowering drug prices and advancing research and development. I’m tired of all of it. How about you?