Analysis of medicine advertisement produced in Brazil

Objective: To analyze the compliance of drug advertisements with regulations in Brazil, subject to Resolution RDC No. 102/2000 since 2000, which abides by the WHO's (World Health Organization) Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion, published in 1988. Methods: Drug advertisements running within the period of October 2002 to October 2003 were collected and recorded. Media sources included various AM and FM radio stations, television channels, newspapers, and magazines, as well as printed material distributed in doctors' offices, hospitals, drugstores, conferences, billboards, and bus doors. All sources were located in Curitiba City, Brazil, and its surrounding area. Advertisement content was analyzed according to a conformity checklist prepared based on the legal requirements of RDC No. 102/00. Results: A total of 827 advertisements for 517 different products, 83.91% regularly registered as medicinal drugs and 16.09% unregistered products that should be registered according to the Brazilian regulations, were recorded and collected. Approximately 74.73% of the advertisements did not comply with regulations; on average, such advertisements had 4.6 infractions each. Conclusions: The results of this research suggest that RDC No. 102/00 is not followed, which strengthens the need to adopt new forms of regulation to prohibit excesses of the pharmaceutical industry and to protect the population from abusive and misleading drug advertising (AU)

Objetivo: Analizar el cumplimiento de los reglamentos de publicidad de medicamentos en Brasil, sujetos a la Resolución RDC No. 102/2000 desde el 2000, que desarrolla los Criterios Éticos para la Promoción de Medicamentos de la OMS (Organización Mundial del a Salud) publicados en 1988. Métodos: Se recogieron y grabaron los anuncios de medicamentos que aparecieron entre octubre de 2002 y octubre de 2003. Los medios incluyeron varias emisoras de radio de AM y FM, canales de televisión, periódicos y revistas, así como material impreso distribuido en las consultas médicas, hospitales, droguerías, conferencias, billares y paradas de autobús. Todas las fuentes se localizaron en la ciudad de Curitiba, Brasil y su entorno. El contenido de los anuncios se analizó de acuerdo a una lista de conformidad preparada en base al os requisitos legales del RDCN o. 102/00. Resultados: Se recogieron y grabaron 827 anuncios de 517 productos diferentes, el 83,91% registrados como medicamentos, y el 16,09% productos no registrados, pero que deberían estar registrados según la legislación brasileña. Aproximadamente el 74,73% de los anuncios no cumplió la legislación; de media cada anuncio tenía 4,6 infracciones. Conclusiones: El resultado de esta investigación sugiere que el RDCN o. 102/00 no se está siguiendo, lo que refuerza la necesidad de adoptar nuevas formas de regulación para prohibir los excesos de la industria farmacéutica y proteger a la población de la publicidad abusiva y engañosa (AU)

Analysis of medicine advertisement produced in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the compliance of drug advertisements with regulations in Brazil, subject to Resolution RDC No. 102/2000 since 2000, which abides by the WHO's (World Health Organization) Ethical Criteria for Medicinal Drug Promotion, published in 1988. METHODS: Drug advertisements running within the period of October 2002 to October 2003 were collected and recorded. Media sources included various AM and FM radio stations, television channels, newspapers, and magazines, as well as printed material distributed in doctors' offices, hospitals, drugstores, conferences, billboards, and bus doors. All sources were located in Curitiba City, Brazil, and its surrounding area. Advertisement content was analyzed according to a conformity checklist prepared based on the legal requirements of RDC No. 102/00. RESULTS: A total of 827 advertisements for 517 different products, 83.91% regularly registered as medicinal drugs and 16.09% unregistered products that should be registered according to the Brazilian regulations, were recorded and collected. Approximately 74.73% of the advertisements did not comply with regulations; on average, such advertisements had 4.6 infractions each. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this research suggest that RDC No. 102/00 is not followed, which strengthens the need to adopt new forms of regulation to prohibit excesses of the pharmaceutical industry and to protect the population from abusive and misleading drug advertising.