The United States and New Zealand are the only two countries in the world that allow TV commercials for prescription drugs. It is not anyone's imagination that these commercials are more frequent (up 65 percent since 2012) and longer (source: "Psychology Today"). According to the Annals of Family Medicine, drug companies are now paying over $6 billion a year to TV networks. There is no question that drug companies increase the price of their medications for patients in order to pay for these lucrative payouts.

What is even more significant is that these commercials, often aimed at seniors, violate Federal Drug Administration laws, as Dr. Joseph Ross of Yale has pointed out. FDA requires that drug companies list quantitative information about side effects and also exclude any information about "off label" use of medications. These requirements are rarely followed.

The American Medical Association has requested the termination of these commercials for many years to no avail. It is time that Congress step up and end this practice that does nothing to improve the health of Americans. This may not happen soon since Big Pharma has already sent checks worth $11 million to 356 lawmakers ahead of the upcoming election (source: statenews.com).

Dr. Robert J. Perry

Mystic