How is direct-to-consumer marketing affecting our healthcare system?

Pharmaceutical companies are known for their lack of ethics and questionable marketing. And yet, their marketing continues to influence the general public and practitioners. Some legal boundaries and required reporting have just recently been put into practice. However, the money-hungry pharmaceutical companies continue to put Americans at risk if it means their pay out will be greater. Now, of even more concern is the declining research of breakthrough drugs because of their lack of profitability. Also, the whole idea of their marketing scheme seems ridiculous. Pharmaceutical companies are promoting a drug before it is even developed in order to have the drug sell that much faster once it is (if ever) on the market. Does it not seem backwards? Maybe we should focus some more effort on perfecting drugs before they are released and knowing more about their therapeutic effect then on how quickly it can be sold…


Applbaum, K. (2009). Is marketing the enemy of pharmaceutical innovation?. The Hastings Center Report, 39(4), 13-17. Retrieved from MEDLINE database