How wide is the ‘treatment gap’ for antidepressants in India? : ethnographic insights on marketing strategies
Abstract
This article aims to show that current estimates of treatment gaps for antidepressants in India do not take sufficient notice of the actual availability and affordability of antidepressant drugs. Specifically, the authors try to show that antidepressants are widely given without prescription and that uses are often beyond the control of licensed service providers. Overprescription and misuse of antidepressants might be just as problematic as a lack of drugs and treatments. The driving force in the proliferation of psychotropic drugs even in developing countries like India is private industry pharmaceutical marketing.
Citation
Ecks, S.; Basu, S. How wide is the ‘treatment gap’ for antidepressants in India? : ethnographic insights on marketing strategies. Journal of health studies (2009) 2: 68-80.