Consumer activists, a section of the government doctors and psychologists claim that the concerted campaign is nothing but a marketing ploy to improve profit margins.
NEW DELHI: Frequent alarming reports on sharp rise in lifestyle diseases in the country are being blamed on a nexus among some pharma companies, corporate hospitals and doctors to allegedly increase sales of drugs by painting a "fear psychosis".
Consumer activists, a section of the government doctors and psychologists claim that the concerted campaign is nothing but a marketing ploy to improve profit margins and a surreptitious way to prop up sales of drugs and products.
They have expressed dismay over frequent reports in the media about increase in the number of people suffering from heart ailments, diabetes, depression and asthma among other diseases saying it has led to a 'fear psychosis.'
But pharmaceutical firms like Ranbaxy, a leading firm, which recently initiated a heart awareness campaign that currently comes out on TV has contested suggestions that surveys done by drug companies are aimed at scaring people for their monetary gains.
"We conduct consumer awareness programmes as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility to generate mass awareness and knowledge about various disease segments. Many times such an exercise helps to fill in the knowledge gap that may exist," says a Ranbaxy spokesperson. The firm has previously conducted studies in cholesterol related issues, diabetes, HIV, asthma among others.
While many of the studies are backed by World Health Organisation (WHO) and other reputed agencies, a large number of studies are backed by pharma companies which they claim is part of their corporate social responsibility.
"Such studies done by pharma companies are completely driven by profits and not to increase awareness as pointed out by the companies," says Bejon Misra, Executive Director, Consumer Voice who had initiated 'Jago Grahak Jago' campaign.
"It is a very simple marketing ploy. First you bring in the fear and then you offer a magical cure for the same. Due to lack of scientific reasoning and medical awareness, many people end up getting scared even if it is short lived," Aruna Broota, well known psychologist based in the capital told.
"Many patients come to me saying that at times they fear for their health. When one reads or sees health stories pointing out that the disease has high prevalence rate, it does frighten many people. We all love ourselves and companies play with such emotions to sell their products," she said.
For Rohit Ponnuse, 29, a DJ, his weight is becoming a big inconvenience for him.
"My father has cholesterol and hence even though I am just overweight by a few kilos, he is very worried about my health and I have to take regular cholesterol checks. With frequent reports coming out that heart diseases are on the increase, it adds to my father's anxiety. I read recently that even people of my age group have started having cardio vascular problems and in some cases heart attacks. So, it does scare you," said Rohit.
A senior doctor with AIIMS says, "There is no doubt that these surveys create anxiety in people's mind. One wants to know whether he or she is is alright and if there is even an iota of doubt, they would visit a doctor. Pharma companies manufacture drugs for business and they have to sell them."
Aware of the immense market potential, Pharma companies are engaged in an intense tussle to justify the drug sold by them as being more effective than that of the rival.
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