Healthy Skepticism Library item: 12592

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: Journal Article

Vermeulen M, Bouma J.
[The influence of the pharmaceutical industry in patient organisations].
Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. 2007 Nov 3; 151:(44):2432-4
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18064861

Abstract:

Most patient organisations have no objection to sponsoring by the pharmaceutical industry. Only 5% of all organisations are against sponsoring. When patient organisations were asked whether or not their activities could continue without sponsoring, 42% answered no, 6% yes, and 52% felt that they might continue, but restricted. In a report of the public health inspector on the subject, transparency is considered to be a remedy for the entanglement between patient organisations and the pharmaceutical industry. However, the authors doubt that this is effective. The government should provide sufficient support for patient organisations so that they can become independent from the industry.

Keywords:
Conflict of Interest Disclosure Drug Industry/ethics* Financial Support* Humans Voluntary Health Agencies/ethics*