Call for ban on medical software ads

The Australian Consumers Association (ACA), publishers of Choice magazine, are pushing for a ban on pharmaceutical promotion in doctor's prescribing software.

There is a growing trend for practices to use software to generate laser-printed prescriptions and this software currently contains drug advertising which the ACA believes influences doctor's prescribing habits and places pressure on the public purse. "Advertising was not permitted when doctors prescribed using paper script pads," said Gordon Renouf, ACA General Manager, Policy and Campaigns. "Now they are faced with a barrage of drug ads ever time they use their prescribing software." The ACA is further concerned that this form of intrusive advertising also leads to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme blowouts as doctors may be persuaded to prescribe more or expensive drugs. Further concern surfaced recently following research published in the Medical Journal of Australia that many ads also do not comply with the Medicines Australia Code of Practice.