DOCTORS REFORM SOCIETY

Media Release

Sunday, 17 July 2005

DOCTORS CALL ON GOVERNMENT TO CONTROL PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY ADVERTISING

“Evidence presented in today’s Medical Journal of Australia that the drug industry’s advertising on doctors’ prescribing software packages breaches the industry’s own guidelines should be a major concern to the Federal Government,” said Dr Tim Woodruff, President, Doctors Reform Society.

“Treasurer Costello raised concerns before the last election about the marketing of drugs like Celebrex and the huge cost blowout to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme related to this drug. But instead of acting to control the industry, the Government has required that patients pay bigger copayments.”

“The drug industry is regulated by a self administered code of conduct which has demonstrably failed,” said Dr Woodruff.  “It’s now time for the Federal Government to act”.

“Firstly the Government needs to directly regulate drug advertising and marketing itself, rather than leaving it to a profit oriented industry to self regulate,” said Dr Woodruff. “This should include a ban on advertising on prescription writing software.”

“Secondly, it needs to compete with the $1 billion marketing budget of the industry which aims to get doctors prescribing the most expensive newest drugs even when there are cheaper and effective alternatives. Currently the Government spends an efficient and effective $20 million per year on drug education for doctors. But the huge yearly increases in the cost of the PBS indicate that this paltry amount, just one fiftieth of the industry’s spend, simply doesn’t compete.”  

Dr Tim Woodruff

President

Doctors Reform Society

Doctors Reform Society