FDA and New powers to watch advertising

Ok, so they can do more than just watch advertising, they can actually stop advertising they deem misleading. I originally heard this on NPR Moneymarket-here's the link with the script of the piece below. If you read the whole thing-you'll see this, but I want to make sure you hear about it: Last year drug companies spent $5.3 billion on advertising. Not research. Not manufacturing. Advertising. But, when you think about all the ads you see for drugs, it makes sense. I also don't know if that was OTC and prescription, or just prescription drugs just to let ya know.

Another good article on this is in the LA Times, found here. It goes into much more detail of how the new Senate bill expands the role of the FDA and gives them more proactive powers. It also discusses the creation of a database that scans for pharmacy and insurance records for patterns of medication problems. Obviously-this is a much more active and more powerful role for the FDA, something that many people say is long over due.

In regards to the database-Two things I consider when I think about this issue. First, I think this could be a big step forward towards creating a more unified drug monitoring system. Think about it: If the FDA can link pharmacy and insurance records, how far off is it before they are looking for patients that are on duplicate therapy or are abusing narcotics? I have no background whatsoever in the topic, but it's something to hope for. On the contrast of that though, is of course cost. Increased monitoring obviously necessitates increased funding. This comes from tax-payers of course, but also from drug companies who must also pay millions of dollars to the FDA for them to review their New Drug Applications. Pros and cons to both.