For the drugs we need

Abstract

Purpose

To delineate confusions and uncertainties of the issues surrounding those criticisms. Critics assert that all marketing of medical products is abusive, while actual impacts are disputed.

Design/methodology/approach

Pulling from past commentaries on pharmaceutical marketing and current criticisms of the practice, to indicate areas of confusion.

Findings

The ills of pharmaceutical marketing are not as great as critics presume, but the practices are not as positive as the companies might wish to assert. With uncertainty on the actual impact of specific practices, the companies are engaging in a certain degree of warfare via ever‐increasing budgets of sometimes‐questionable value.

Practical implications

Puts criticisms of pharmaceutical marketing in context.

Originality/value

Perspectives for understanding pharmaceutical marketing.

Citation

Rotfeld, H.J. (2005), "For the drugs we need", Journal of Consumer Marketing, Vol. 22 No. 7, pp. 365-368. https://doi.org/10.1108/07363760510631093