Mixed Views on Moves to Liberalise Mexico's Drug Advertising

The multinational sector in Mexico has continued to call for a law to liberalise advertising of drugs, with new legislation on the subject currently under discussion among lawmakers in the country. At present, Mexico imposes relatively strict limits on drug promotion, although these conditions have softened of late. Perhaps in a sign of things to come, US drug major Wyeth was recently cleared to openly market its infant vaccine Prevenar in Mexico.

However, while the research-based multinational sector may welcome ongoing reforms to the country's Health Law, there are concerns that greater openness in drug advertising may work to the benefit of dubious so-called "miracle products" peddled by some local drugmakers. Health professionals continue to call for tighter regulation of this quasi-illicit sector, with strict guidelines on which areas of genuine therapeutic benefit will be entitled to greater freedom to advertise.