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The Coalition for Healthcare Communication has filed a citizens petition with the FDA to basically require the FDA to make new rules regarding drug advertising. They want make the ads more simpler and easier to understand. I’m all for making the ads simpler and easier to understand but, as I understand the system currently, the FDA does not pre-approve ads for pharmaceuticals. There is much discussion concerning advertising of drugs and I do think it is needed. One thing I’d like to see is every ad on television contain the name and logo of the manufacturer as well as stating what the drug is used for. I still remember being in a room full of people watching televisdion. A drug ad comes on and everyone in the room looks at me when one the females in the room asked “Do I need that?” It was an ad for Viagra.

I do think the idea of getting input from academics and professionals would be useful but trying to convey the risks vs benefit in a 30 second spot that everyone can agree on is next to impossible. I also think that print ads should probably have different considerations from either a radio spot or a television commercial. It’s a topic I’ve thought a lot about but beyond the few simple ideas I’ve outlines above, I’m not sure how to convey the needed information in such a short span of time. I do think ads may encourage to ask their doctors about certain conditions, but just getting patients to demand a specific drug name at the doctors office doesn’t necessarily improve the overall healthcare situation and may only encourage use of a brand name drugs that may not be appropriate or needed.

Technorati Tags: drug ads, FDA

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