The Wire

Large Pharmaceutical companies have the resources and capacity to invent many innovative medications that have helped millions of people. But increasingly these corporate giants are coming under heavy fire for their very tricky marketing techniques. Well now a new book claims these companies aim to change the very way we perceive illness and well-being. Entitled Selling Sickness: How Drug Companies Are Turning Us All Into Patients”, the book says these marketing campaigns attempt to broaden the ‘patient pool’ by medicalizing mild conditions. With billions of dollars at stake there are even claims that the industry is trying to virtually invent new illnesses by giving minor symptoms, scary new labels. Respected health journalist Ray Moynihan is the books co-author. He’s speaking here with Sasha Pavey.