The NZMA reports the Minister of Health has accepted the position advocated by the NZMA that the rules and regulations for direct-to-consumer advertising (DTC) of pharmaceuticals should be strengthened, while continuing with industry self-regulation. "DTCA offers some benefits, such as educating people about medical conditions, and treatment options," chair John Adams says. "But there is also a potential for it to damage the patient/doctor relationship. We have heard reports of doctors being pressured by patients wanting medicines they have seen advertised, when there is no clinical need for them."
Read what GPs think in the New Zealand Doctor/IMS HEALTH poll due out the 29 August.
