Unethical Promotion in the Third World Countries: Understanding the Consequences

Abstract

One of the antecedent processes to drug giving or drug taking is an action (promotion) by pharmaceutical companies to influence these behaviors. In most countries, especially Third World countries, the promotional material is a primary source of drug information to practitioners. When this material is intentionally biased or is accompanied by other unethical practices, company ethics are rightly questioned. Third World pharmaceutical promotional practices are examined, along with some of the consequences that occur as a result of the discovered improprieties. Several factors that impact on public's view of the pharmaceutical industry are discussed as well as their influence on member firm's reputation. The more that a company understands these factors and incorporates this knowledge into their strategic planning, the greater will be its potential for long-term growth and sustained profitability.