Pharmaceutical promotion, advertising, and consumers

Abstract

Proponents of drug promotion and advertising claim that it is informative and educational; opponents are concerned that the information conveyed encourages inappropriate and unnecessary use. Health Affairs papers by Joel Weissman and colleagues and by Robert Dubois provide some validation for the views of both sides of this debate but do not allow us to draw definitive conclusions about key issues involving inappropriate use of expensive medications and their substitution for cheaper medications that are just as effective. The extent to which consumers have been protected from the rising cost of pharmaceuticals further muddles the picture. However, new insurance benefit designs that threaten to shift more costs to consumers may fuel demand for more comprehensive and balanced information.