Consumer says the advertisements don't provide people with useful information.

The advertisements sell the promise of a quick fix, but Consumer doesn't think they provide all the facts needed for people to make an informed choice.

A study has found that people with "unhealthier" lifestyles are more likely to buy into medical marketing for conditions that could otherwise be improved by exercising, eating healthier and cutting back on alcohol.

The study of more than 2057 New Zealanders was carried out by the University of Otago and published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

The researchers are calling for regulatory changes regarding the advertising of medicines.

Another 2014 study concluded that DTCA is a biased source of health information and is associated with unnecessary prescribing, iatrogenic harm and unnecessary costs to the taxpayer.

New Zealand and the USA are the only two countries in the developed world that allow DTCA.

In the US, medical marketing is regulated.

The Ministry of Health has been consulting on whether the law should continue to allow medicine advertising.

Consumer has made a submission favouring a ban.

They will be providing the results of their latest research to the ministry and Minister of Health David Clark.

The Council of Medical Colleges of New Zealand, the New Zealand Medical Association, The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners and the New Zealand Nurses Association also back a ban.

A statement on behalf of all four New Zealand Departments of General Practice/Primary Care states that "The misleading method of marketing our most powerful and potentially most harmful medicines should be banned."

Source

• scimex.org
• consumer.org.nz
• nzma.org.nz
• Image: nzdoctor.co.nz

The church's bishop, Victor Silva who is currently in Fiji, said via email that the UCKG believed God could heal people.

"We - like many Christians - pray for the sick, anointing them with oil and encourage people to do the same.

"This is never meant to replace medical treatments, but often it is done in conjunction with them, as a way to activate people's faith."

Claims from followers that the oil, as well as faith, have treated chronic illness are made in a pamphlet advertising an event called Lifted, which the UCKG billed as the "event of the year".

Naina Sharma, who works for the church, said the testimonials came mainly from people in New Zealand and Australia.

However she pointed out that there is a disclaimer in the pamphlet.

"If you read the disclaimer we say we don't claim to heal anyone," she said before declining to comment further.

In small print, the pamphlet makes this disclaimer: "The UCKG does not claim to heal people but believes God can through the power of faith. Always follow your doctor's instructions."

This is not the first time the UCKG' healing oil has been in the news. In 2014 the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) upheld a complaint about it from the Society for Science Based Healthcare.

This was after Silva, responding to a previous successful ASA complaint, had promised that:

"When we come to hold another similar event, we will take external advice as to the content of any promotional material to doubly ensure that it is fully compliant with all regulation and that there is no chance of another complaint of this nature."

Despite these assurances, within 3 weeks the church sent out another advertisement for a "chain of prayer" series of events.

This advert claimed that "IT WORKS!" and that a "HEALING" session covered cases such as "When doctors & medicines are not enough" and "incurable diseases".

Source

• nzherald.co.nz
• scoop.co.nz
• Image: newstalkzb.co.nz