So this week I participated in a hearing in the Swedish Parliament on more effective use of pharmaceuticals.
I wasn't the only one presenting, Anders Blanck, the deputy CEO of LIF/PhRMA (the Swedish pharmaceutical industry organization) also spoke for a short while.
He's probably the only PhRMA executive in the world with long stylish hair and a pony tail, but hey, I thought he was cute and this is Sweden, after all.
What he said was, however, more important than his hair.
He strongly stated that "Direct to consumer advertising of pharmaceuticals is not something we like or support."
I couldn't help myself, so I stood up and suggested that if he'd said that in the U.S. he'd been fired. He didn't want to comment on that.
And clearly, what is good and bad in pharma-land, simply depends on what you can get away with.
Here is a song on the theme of a chameleon:

I seldom watch television due to the DTC ads; most especially the endless erectile dysfunction ads. Smiling couples holding hands, with hints of things to come....two guys doing some guy-like activity like touch football or watching football on TV. Ads on early in the evening, leaving Mom and Dad to fudge answers to the questions of the little ones. P L E A S E
Pharmas whine about the fact that they get no respect but they will never earn any this way.
Posted by: Grieving | October 26, 2007 at 07:55 PM