ads for medicines on British television

steeljack · 09-10-2006, 01:34

Since I haven't lived in the UK for quite some years I was wondering if your commercial TV stations are allowed to run ads from the various drug companies . Here in the U S we a constantly being hit with ads for various ailments, it used to be that hemorrhoids sufferers were encouraged to buy Preparation H , the new ads for the product tell you it is now available in larger size wipes ( results of obesity ?) or if you pulled your back you were encouraged to buy "hot and ice" cream, the usual over the counter remedies.
But nowadays we are constantly being hit with multiple ads for prescription medicines, stuff for Asthma, Acid reflux disease (whatever that is ) and the worst of all, usually during football games and Nascar races ads for medicines which cure ED, , evidently ED is reaching epidemic proportions in the US since at least 3 multi-national drug companies have spent millions of $$s developed wonder cures, ED i must explain is the polite TV name for Erectile Dysfunction, (for guys who can't get it up) the ads offer everything , one small pill and you are ready to go , anytime anywhere for the next 36 hours , there is also a drug for women who find it difficult to "ring the bell".
It's got to the stage where patients are asking the doctors for these new wonder drugs that they have seen on TV and the doctors has never heard of them
We also have ads for various cancer care clinics, each touting how better they are than the one in the next county, or the different drying out clinics , e.g." the Valley of the Moon' will help cure your dependancy problems in two short weeks during which time you will enjoy your stay with our family style meals"...more obesity...
I realize we have different health care systems , but just wondering how much advertising is allowed on British TV if any, and what your thoughts on the subject are .

mani · 09-10-2006, 02:43

the only ads we get are for stuff available over the counter - such as paracetamols, anadin, asprin, heat rub, cough medicine etc

for the more serious of stuff no advertising is allowed - there must b some govt board which allows certain drug companies to advertise adn certain ones not to.

though sayin that in certain medical publications i've seen stuff advertised which normally wudnt b.

i guess its cause the private medical sector isnt as dominant in the uk as it is in the usa. so less ppl can go upto their nhs doc and say gimme xyz - its upto the doc to decide if they get it or not

Neil · 09-10-2006, 04:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

ED i must explain is the polite TV name for Erectile Dysfunction, (for guys who can't get it up)

That sounds similar to Chavs problem, not the Erectile Dysfunction part, just the can't get it up anywhere part.

Keep rubbing the cream in Chav, the redness and soreness will go away soon, maybe you will learn a lesson or two from your experiance.

WillowTheWhisp · 09-10-2006, 07:06

Nice little ad we've got here on AccyWeb for ...................... Emu Oil!

I think people do sometimes demand drugs from their GP that the GP 'hasn't heard of' but that's more likely because they've read an article about them in newspaper, and the 'lack of awareness' is more likely to be a lack of funding.