00:00President Trump wants drug companies to share more information about the risks and side effects of their drugs when advertising directly to consumers.
00:09He just signed a new memorandum that will further regulate advertisements, just like this one.
00:17Yeah, they're ubiquitous.
00:21President Trump wrote in the memorandum,
00:23Over time, the FDA's requirements have permitted drug companies to include less information, particularly in broadcast advertising, and drug manufacturer advertising has skyrocketed in recent decades.
00:36Coincidentally, Straight Arrow News was already looking into this and found doctors don't like direct-to-consumer advertising.
00:43They say it hurts the doctor-patient relationship and makes it difficult to treat those who walk in for an appointment and already have their mind made up as to what they need for treatment.
00:52You know, back in the 1990s, President Clinton changed the rules and allowed direct-to-consumer advertising.
01:01That's been a boon to pharmaceutical companies, and it's led to just this phenomenal increase in what we pay for medications.
01:10Because what they're doing now is they're marketing directly to the consumer saying,
01:14Hey, go into your doctor and ask for this specific medication.
01:17That would be something, you know, RFK Jr. has talked about getting rid of direct-to-consumer advertising.
01:25I don't think it has actually been helpful.
01:28I think it has driven the price of medications.
01:31Because it is very hard if a patient comes in and says,
01:34Hey, I'd like this latest and greatest medication.
01:37I saw this commercial on television.
01:39And then you spend most of your time saying, look, the medication you're on actually is controlling your blood pressure very well.
01:47It costs a lot less than this other medication.
01:51And there's no reason for us to make that switch.
01:55Most of the time, we're going to lose that argument.
01:57And I can't tell you how frequent, you know, I would have a patient come in.
02:00I saw this recent commercial.
02:03I want this medication.
02:05Well, then I've got to spend 10 minutes while you don't need that medication or 30 seconds to write the medication.
02:10And that's why the drug companies are on TV is to push a product to make my life, I'm not saying difficult,
02:16but, you know, can be a challenge because I might not agree with that commercial, but that patient is adamant.
02:23The easiest way for me is to modify that patient, write the medication, and move forward.
02:27And that's why there's so much, you know, pharma on TV.
02:29I mean, I think the United States and New Zealand are the only places that allow commercials for pharma products.
02:35Everyone else, you can't do that.
02:36And I think it really kind of gets in the way between the doctor-patient relationship where I can sit down,
02:40tell you benefits of what, you know, what medicines are out there.
02:43They can do their due diligence.
02:45But I would tell them, on average, this is usually going to be the best medication, not what you saw on a commercial.
02:50They come with an idea, and they think of me like McDonald's.
02:53I'm coming, I want my Happy Meal.
02:55I'm coming for a script.
02:56And that's the problem, I think, there's sometimes you just need an interaction with the patient, like we're doing, talking.
03:02And then maybe I don't need a prescription.
03:04Maybe not everything is in a prescription.
03:07Maybe it's in, well, let's talk about your diet.
03:09Well, let's talk about your exercise.
03:10Well, let's talk about your stress that you have in your life.
03:12That's not in a pill.
03:13You know, that's something else.
03:15You know, I hate to tell you.
03:16But people don't want to hear that.
03:18They just want the pill format, and it's the easy way, and I get it.
03:22But is the easy way going to be the right way?
03:24And I think we're, unfortunately, maybe this is related to, I mean, an over-medicated society.
03:30I'm Ray Bogan for Straight Arrow News.
03:31For more unbiased reporting straight from our nation's capital, download the SAN app.
03:37For more unbiased reporting straight from our nation's capital, download the SAN app.
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