Photo of Lance Reis in Unsplash
The U.S. government announced Tuesday a significant change to its rules on television advertising of prescription drugs, requiring pharmaceutical companies to include more information about the side effects of their products.
The measure was made official in a proclamation signed by President Donald Trump, who stated that his administration will ensure that advertising regulation provides consumers with "fair, balanced, and complete" data.
More transparency and control in drugs
The text establishes that Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. must implement measures to strengthen transparency and accuracy in consumer-directed advertising. This includes expanding the amount of information about the risks associated with drug use.
Kennedy Jr. told Fox News that the relaxation of advertising requirements had a “disastrous impact,” promoting the idea that there’s a “one-size-fits-all” pill and undermining the importance of exercise and good nutrition.
A particular context
Currently, only the United States and New Zealand allow television advertising for prescription drugs.
In the United States, these types of ads have multiplied in recent decades, with campaigns often highlighting the benefits of medications and downplaying their potential risks.
Since his arrival, Kennedy Jr. has promoted the MAHA program to promote exercise and diet, while strengthening the oversight of vaccines and treatments.
Reactions and implications
The change could disrupt pharmaceutical advertising, which spends billions on TV. For consumers, it would provide more information about risks, although experts fear confusion from excessive warnings.
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