[e-drug] WHO's web-based public hearings: hijacked by pharma? (3)

["robert weissman" <rob@essential.org>]

E-DRUG: WHO's web-based public hearings: hijacked by pharma? (3)
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E-druggers,

Completely separately from our Asian health ministry colleagues, 
Essential Action reviewed the groups submitting comments in public 
hearing process for the World Health Organization's Intergovernmental 
Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property.

Our results parallel those reported in the letter that appeared in The 
Lancet. We analyzed a slightly larger set of organizations submitting 
comments. Our analysis showed that 22 NGOs submitting comments to the 
IGWG  either accepted funding from pharmaceutical companies and/or 
employed pharmaceutical representatives on the organization's board of 
directors or advisory committees. Only eight of the NGOs submitting a 
total of 11 comments did not receive pharmaceutical industry funding. 
Thirteen pharmaceutical and biotechnology trade associations or chambers 
of commerce also submitted comments.

Our information was based first on a survey of the groups submitting 
comments; supplemented by a review of external resources. The full 
report provides information on each of the groups, including whether 
they responded to our survey and what they reported if they did.

The report is available here:

http://www.essentialaction.org/access/index.php?/archives/82-Pharma-Links-of-NGOs-in-the-WHO-IGWG-process.html

Best,

Robert Weissman
Essential Action
robert weissman <rob@essential.org>