American Medical Association Calls for Ban on Direct to Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs and Medical Devices

(Choice of image by Editor of "Towards Better Health")

All told, drug companies spend about $4.5 billion annually in the U.S. advertising prescription remedies and implantable devices, according to Kantar Media. Spending has been on the rise, and the direct-to-consumer prescription drug category has become a major source of revenue for the TV and magazine industries.

AMA Calls for Ban on Direct to Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs and Medical Devices

For immediate release:
Nov. 17, 2015

ATLANTA –Responding to the billions of advertising dollars being spent to promote prescription products, physicians at the Interim Meeting of the American Medical Association (AMA) today adopted new policy aimed at driving solutions to make prescription drugs more affordable.

Physicians cited concerns that a growing proliferation of ads is driving demand for expensive treatments despite the clinical effectiveness of less costly alternatives.

“Today’s vote in support of an advertising ban reflects concerns among physicians about the negative impact of commercially-driven promotions, and the role that marketing costs play in fueling escalating drug prices,” said AMA Board Chair-elect Patrice A. Harris, M.D., M.A. “Direct-to-consumer advertising also inflates demand for new and more expensive drugs, even when these drugs may not be appropriate.”
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