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Introduction:
Consumers are largely unaware
of how their drug consumption choices are being shaped by
corporate motives for gargantuan profits. The overarching aim of
corporate drug promotion, therefore, is to increase profits by
raising consumer demand for pharmaceutical products.
What
Is Unethical Drug?
The main objective of ethical criteria for medicinal drug
promotion is to support and encourage the improvement of health
care through the rational use of medicinal drugs. In this context
the ethical criteria start from the validity of the drug itself: is
the drug or combination of drugs rational
According to a World Health
Organization (WHO) survey, 35% of the world's spurious drugs are
produced in India, which has a Rs. 4,000-crore fake drugs market,
the largest in the world.
Various Techniques And Tricks Of Unethical Drug Promotion:
Pharmaceutical companies choose to spend more on medical drug
promotion rather than research and development because drug
promotion is what earns them money.
In India, Unethical Drug
Promotion takes place in various forms such as promoting
misleading or false claims about a drug, deliberately suppressing
risks and side effects of a drug, providing financial incentives
to doctors for prescribing a drug to consumers, using disease
awareness campaigns for drug promotion rather than health
promotion.
Unfortunately in India, there
is no check and balances on the pharmaceutical company as the
incorrect drugs are given to the patients. Hence such marketing
methods create an impression of legitimacy and independence and
can leave consumers misinformed about the drugs they are buying.
Unethical Drug Promotion: An Emerging Threat For The Indian
Society:
X India is the most vulnerable country in
the context of unethical drug promotion:
India is by and large a developing country having second
largest population of the world. Thus the market size is
considerable for medicines. In addition 36% of its population
still suffering from illiteracy if we go by the last census
report.
A developing country faces lot
of problems ranging from ignorance to the unassertiveness of the
so-called literate bracket of the population. It is precisely this
unassertiveness, which is used as a tool of exploitation by the
pharmaceutical companies in the promotion of their product. The
true cost of counterfeit drug sales is being passed on to
consumers in the developing world, who often suffer severe
illnesses and death from fake medicines.
While discussions and debates
are good to create and spread awareness about the dangers of
spurious drugs, no concrete action plan has emerged to combat the
menace on a national level.
X Nexus
between medical practitioners and pharmaceutical companies:
A large quantity of fake medicines are being sold in the country
because apart from registered medical practitioners, un-
registered medical practitioners such as being trained in Unani,
RMPs (Registered Medical Practitioners) play an active role in
health care system of rural area and slum area, because they are
the first contact in medical emergencies. Such medical
practitioners have no professional qualification and no license to
practice any system of medicine. In this situation pharmaceutical
companies influence such medical practitioners for the purpose of
their products.
In addition many qualified
physicians also prescribe the drugs to their patients on the basis
of relation with the manufacturer.
X Free
distribution of samples of medicine and its Adverse Effect on
Public Health:
In India, samples of old drugs are regularly distributed free in
large quantities. There is no regulation on the giving of such
samples. Thus inappropriate promotion of such medicines leads
health professionals and the public towards irrational use of
drugs.
In addition with reference to
spurious medicines, there is no full proof system of recall of
drugs in India. Therefore, once a medicine is released into the
market; the distribution network is so widespread that it becomes
nearly impossible to recall the defective drug.
Conclusive Remarks:
This problem of Unethical Drug Promotion
can be countered to a great extent by preparation of treatment
guidelines, conducting periodic prescription audits and continuing
medical education.
The government should frame
comprehensive legislation to make all health care professionals
accountable to the system and ensure that the drug companies
comply with the National criteria for drug promotion as well as
WHO Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion.
It is essential for the health
professional to become a more active participant in this process.
Prescribing drugs is an important skill. It not only reflects the
physician's knowledge of pharmacology but also his/her skill in
diagnosis and attitude towards selecting the most appropriate cost
effective treatment. Hence medicines prescribe by physicians
should be continuously assessed and refined accordingly.
As consumers it is true that
we should be concerned about our rights but also we should give
the same level of consideration towards our responsibilities as
both rights and responsibilities go hand in hand. As consumers,
you have to be more vigilant about the prevailing market
situations, availability of goods and the quality and standards of
goods.
Consumer health must be placed
above corporate profit. Hence let us intensify the national level
crusade against the spread of Unethical Drug
Promotion.
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Unethical Drug Promotion:
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The
author can be reached at: jaysinhjadeja@legalserviceindia.com /
