DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING (DTCA) OF PHARMACEUTICALS: AN UPDATED REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND DEBATE SINCE 2003.

The pharmaceutical sector is unusual amongst global regulated industries inasmuch as it is usually forbidden from advertising to the users of its products. This paper reports on research updating my 2003 review ² of the evidence and arguments for and against the direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) of prescription drugs. It not only covers the two countries where significant DTCA is permitted (USA and New Zealand), but also the administrations in which there is active discussion of possibilities to ease or amend some of the current restrictions (Europe, Australia and Canada). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]