----------------------------------------------------
E-DRUG WHO label for sale?
The new WHO is coming out. It shows that conflict of interest with drug
companies is only part of the issue.
De Beers, the international diamond company, gives $2.7m to help the WHO
eradicate polio in Angola (Financial Times 10 July).Mrs Gro Harlem
Brundtland is quoted as saying that "This partnership demonstrate the 'new'
WHO we are striving for - a responsive and dynamic agency forging long-term
private and public partnerships in the interests of better health".
Good news for Angolan children, though a further $500m is needed to fund
the campaign, accord to the Financial Times. Good news also for De Beers'
stakeholders, the company being probably keen to secure mining concessions
in government controlled areas of Angola.
I believe this is confirmation of the new director's intentions to invite
corporations to compensate for the lack of governmental funds. But as we
already saw on E-drug, there is no free lunch.
Christophe Kopp
MD
Paris (France)
Christophe.Kopp@wanadoo.fr
--
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'.