If Congress confirms RFK Jr. to head the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), it might keep us from receiving needed vaccines, endangering our own health and the public health. But, it could also spell the end of direct-to-consumer marketing of prescription drugs, reports Andrea Park for Fierce Pharma. And, that’s good news for Americans, as the ads, much like the Medicare Advantage ads, can be extremely deceptive.
When he was running for president several months ago, RFK Jr. declared that he would ban pharmaceutical company advertisements on TV through an executive order. President-elect Trump could follow his lead. Of course, the pharmaceutical companies will challenge this act, claiming it abridges their first amendment right to free speech, and they could prevail. That said, not until 1983 did pharmaceutical companies begin advertising their drugs to consumers on TV. Before that, they marketed their drugs exclusively to doctors and pharmacists.
Today, Pharma spends buckets marketing their prescription drugs. And, for good reason. Their return on investment is tremendous, as much as five times for some drugs.
The United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that permit direct-to-consumer marketing of prescription drugs.
It’s still unclear whether RFK Jr. will take on Pharma’s ads or direct his attention to US food policies. But, Trump’s pick to head the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which is under HHS control, could also act to end Pharma consumer ads. Dr. Martin Makary published a study ten years ago finding that “Further investigation of provider advertising, its effects on quality of care, and potential oversight mechanisms is needed.”
Here’s more from Just Care:
- Medicare Advantage: Tune out the Joe Namath ads
- Insurer provider directories misleadingly include physicians who are out of network
- Misleading Medicare marketing: Insurance industry appears to be pulling strings at Medicare
- Health insurance industry continues to mislead on high costs of Medicare Advantage
- Pharmaceutical companies use scare tactics to mislead public about generics
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