E-drug: Re: single source drug donations (cont'd)
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Mark Raijmakers,
You made the statement about pharmaceutical drug donation programs that:
"A general characteristic of all these programmes is their lack of
transparency; it's
quite difficult to get adequate information and - as far as I know - these
programmes
are not publicly monitored."
Mr. Russo of the PQMD has reported previously that U.S. companies donate
$500,000,000 worth of drugs and medical supplies per year. We should all be
very grateful for this. But, these donations have at least two serious
implications of public interest:
1. Whether donations are appropriate, fresh and properly labeled, and
2. What is the cost to the U.S. taxpayer.
You are right, the specifics of donations given and tax deductions taken are
secret. My previous efforts to persuade Mr. Russo to obtain their
publication was unsuccessful. Mr. Russo is a good and well-meaning man.
But the questions remain. Let's encourage him to persuade his constituency
to release this information.
Scott Hillstrom
President, Cry for the World Foundation
e-mail: scott.hillstrom@analyticorp.co.nz
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