• A Lal.
• Department of Pharmacology, University College of Medical Sciences, Shahdara, Delhi, India. dbmi@ucms.ernet.in
• Ann Pharmacother. 1998 Nov 1; 32 (11): 1234-8.

ObjectiveTo critically analyze the drug information contained in Indian pharmaceutical advertisements.DesignAnalysis of pharmaceutical advertisements supplied by drug representatives (DRs) to prescribers from July 1, 1995, to June 30, 1996.SettingA university-affiliated urban teaching hospital in India.Participants585 pharmaceutical ad pamphlets.Main Outcome MeasuresThe ads supplied by DRs to physicians in different clinical departments of the hospital were collected. These were distributed to different systems/categories and a special reference to fixed-dose drug combinations was given. The drug information contained in these ads was evaluated by using a checklist, framed by incorporating the World Health Organization ethical guidelines for medicinal drug promotion and some relevant items from other studies.ResultsThe most frequently occurring ads were for antimicrobial agents. The ads on fixed-dose drug combinations constituted 37.9% of the total. More than 85% of the ads mentioned the generic name, brand name, contents, and pharmaceutical dosage forms, as well as the name and address of the company. The information concerning adverse effects, precautions, contraindications, warnings, major interactions, ingredients known to cause problems, pharmacology, drug overdose, references, drug storage, and cost was present in less than 40% of these ads.ConclusionsThere has been inadequate information in pharmaceutical ads supplied by DRs to the physicians in India. The current scenario could be improved by formulating some definite legislative guidelines for the minimum level of information to be included in pharmaceutical ads and adhering to that legislation.

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