A cross-sectional descriptive study: Evaluation of pharmaceutical marketing materials in implementing world health organization guidelines

Pharmaceutical companies employ numerous methods for drug marketing like Advertisements in journals, Videos, Flyers, Books, gifts, Drug promotion literatures and flip charts. In the current study 176 DPL were collected. The DPL were analyzed and categorized in accord to the class of drug promoted to study on the most advertised group of drugs. All the DPL were evaluated for fulfilling WHO guidelines. Antimicrobials were the most promoted followed by cardio-vascular agents and drugs for Gastro-intestinal disorders. Out of 176 DPL collected 96.59% had the active ingredient per dosage/ regimen mentioned. The side effects and major adverse drug reaction were quoted only in 27.27% of DPL. The DPL analyzed in the study had brand names, active ingredient and the therapeutic uses but lagged the information in regard to side effects, contraindications and drug interactions. DPL provides knowledge about newer drug molecules hence providing details about its contraindications and precautions will lead to safer treatment to patients. With combined effort of industries and medical practitioners; ethical drug promotions can become a part of drug marketing.