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A leading pharmaceutical company is spearheading a cinema advertising campaign targeting the sale of prescription only medicine on the internet.
Pfizer has teamed with the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) after researchers found that 330,000 men a year risk their health by buying such products.
They are joined by the Patients Association Men’s Health Forum, H.E.A.R.T UK and other leading patient representatives.
The advert shows a man coughing up a dead rat after taking a pill bought from a website highlighting the danger that unregulated or fake “medicines” may contain life threatening ingredients.
Mick Deats, group manager of enforcement at the MHRA said: “The MHRA will not hesitate to take action against those who undermine public health.”
The campaign is part of a drive to educate the public. Launched last year it aims to highlight the risks of taking counterfeit medicines without consulting a doctor.
Dr David Gillen, Pfizer’s medical director said: “The time has definitely come to issue a clear unified message to people about the dangers of purchasing medicines from illicit and unregulated sources.”
Copyright Press Association 2009
