DRUG COMPANIES FUND PATIENT ADVOCACY GROUPS

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DRUG COMPANIES FUND PATIENT ADVOCACY GROUPS

 

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/12/12/1071125652945.html

 

" Pharmaceutical companies are pouring millions of dollars into

patient advocacy groups and medical organisations to help expand

markets for their products.

 

They are also using sponsorships and educational grants to fund

disease-awareness campaigns that urge

people to see their doctors.

 

Many groups have become largely or totally reliant on pharmaceutical

industry money, prompting concerns they are open to pressure from

companies pushing their products.

 

 

An investigation by The Age newspaper has found: An

awareness campaign run by the National Asthma Council was

spearheaded by a cartoon dragon that was the registered trademark

of a drug company used to promote one individual asthma medication.

 

A drug company used a public relations firm to set up an expert

medical board to persuade people they needed hepatitis A and B

vaccinations. The company was not interested in raising awareness

about hepatitis C because it did not sell a vaccine for the

disease. "

 

SOURCE: Sydney Morning Herald, December 13, 2003

 

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