E-drug: HAI Publishes Concerns About Drug Industry Funding
----------------------------------------------------------
Dear E-Drug Subscribers,
Pharmaceutical industry sponsorship has been a topic of discussion on
this list during the past few weeks. As you know from earlier
postings, it was also an area of concern at this year's World Health
Assembly recently concluded in Geneva.
As public funding for health care initiatives continues to decline,
HAI Europe has released a report highlighting the possible
consequences of pharmaceutical industry funding for health charities
and health-promoting NGOs. The publication entitled "The Ties That
Bind: Weighing the Risks and Benefits of Drug Industry Sponsorship"
provides an overview of the main concerns surrounding drug industry
sponsorship and explains how a number of NGOs have chosen to address
them.
This report summarises the presentations, discussions and conclusions
made at a one-day HAI seminar on the subject held in Paris last
December. The meeting brought together representatives from NGOs, the
industry and the press. Its conclusions and recommendations for
action will be helpful to all organisations and individuals facing
this issue.
Its contents include discussions on:
- raising awareness about the effects of privatisation
- the need for greater transparency in industry funding
- questions about "shared goals" between health-promoting NGOs and
industry
- sponsorship as a public relations and marketing tool
- how sponsorship can negatively affect decision-making at many
levels
The report contains many examples of current sponsorship arrangements
from countries around the world and concludes with recommendations for
both national authorities and NGO groups.
Copies of the report can be ordered from HAI for NLG 20 (approximately
US$10). Individuals working in developing countries can receive a
special discount. Please contact us if you'd like more details.
Lisa Hayes
HAI Europe
Jacob van Lennepkade 334-T
1053 NJ Amsterdam
The Netherlands
tel: (+31-20) 683 3684
fax: (+31-20) 685 5002
e-mail: hai@hai.antenna.nl
--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.