Healthy Skepticism Library item: 11263

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Silverman E.
IFPMA Won’t Disclose Charitable Donations
Pharmalot 2007 Aug 22
http://www.pharmalot.com/2007/08/trade-group-wont-disclose-global-contributions/

Full text:

Last month, some advocacy groups wrote the ceo of each drugmaker, along with PhRMA and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations, urging them to disclose their global contributions. The reason? Concern that donations result in off-label marketing by groups receiving funds; mask the agendas of public policy groups that debate policy issues, and allow researchers to circumvent normal disclosure requirements.

In doing so, they cited Lilly’s recent decision to make disclosures, at least in the US. Since then, Lilly agreed to expand its disclosure policy on a global basis. However, Harvey Bale, who heads the IFPMA, wrote back and politely declined to join the bandwagon, saying that disclosures would be a burden and, instead, should be made on a national level. He also notes that IFPMA already has an applicable code of standards.

This is an excerpt from his letter: “The implications of the broad scope of ‘disclosure’ of whatever may be deemed to be, according to your letter, company ‘affiliates’ and ‘associated foundations’ would inadvertently and unfairly create risks for companies in being criticized for non-compliance…

“The system that you suggest would, instead, create unnecessary administrative burden while, in practice, not promoting access to medicines nor addressing the alleged abuses described in your letter…Contributions are made by co’mpany organizations on a country-level and differences exist in accounting for these based on the nature of such contributions.”

In response, Rob Weissman of Essential Action, says: “These arguments are canards. The industry cannot claim to embrace transparency and then refuse to adopt meaningful principles of transparency. Disclosure of charitable and educational contributions is a small step, not involving any plausibly proprietary information, that would have some positive effect in mitigating improper industry influence over policy debates, procurement decisions and prescribing practices. This is not a demand that is going to fade away.”