ABSTRACT
Pharmaceutical companies are often criticized for the quality of their drug advertisements in developing countries. The quantitative data we have collected on advertisements in Francophone African countries confirm these criticisms. In 1990, only 41 out of 141 advertisements published in 6 medical and paramedical journals aimed at Francophone health personnel in Africa conformed to French standards for accuracy and objectivity. Indications were absent from 5 (3.5%) advertisements and exaggerated in 42 (29.8%); side-effects were not mentioned at all in 37 (26.2%) advertisements and were incomplete in a further 20 (14.2%). Similarly, contraindications were absent from 30 (21.3%) advertisements and incomplete in 19 (13.5%). It is clear that pharmaceutical companies do not always follow a code of ethical conduct and that they frequently exploit the lack of effective controls in developing countries. This attitude creates a hazard to public health and tarnishes the image of the companies concerned.
Subject(s)
Advertising , Drug Industry , Periodicals as Topic , Africa , Humans , Truth DisclosureABSTRACT
Des critiques ponctuelles sont parfois adressees aux laboratoires pharmaceutiques sur la qualite des publicites pharmaceutiques qu'ils publient dans les pays en developpement. La presente etude; qui apporte des donnees quantitatives sur les publicites publiees en Afrique francophone; confirme ces critiques. Quarante et une publicites seulement; sur les 141 parues de maniere repetee dans six revues medicales et paramedicales diffusees en Afrique francophone en 1990 se conforment aux regles d'objectivite applicables en France. Les indications des medicaments sont absentes dans 5 publicites et elargies dans 42 autres; les effets indesirables sont absents de 37 publicites et incomplets dans 20 autres; les contre-indications sont absents de 30 publicites et incompletes dans 19 autres
