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The pharmaceuticals industry and patients’ groups: dangerous liaisons

It is not in the best interests of patients’ groups to rely upon the pharmaceuticals industry for their funding and information.

Recent years have seen a worldwide upsurge in "partnerships" between pharmaceutical companies and patients’ groups. Such a partnership is distorted from the outset by the difference in aims and resources between the partners. In the short, medium and long term, the pharmaceuticals industry and patients’ groups have separate agendas, which are not as similar as some would have us believe. Pharmaceutical companies count on patients’ groups to boost their sales. Patients’ groups want to obtain information on treatments, financial assistance for their members in difficulty and funding for their activities. Sometimes companies even set up their own patients’ groups. The pharmaceuticals industry also supports a large number of international organisations and federations of organisations. Patients’ groups do have a part to play in helping patients defend their needs and interests. But it is not in relying upon drug companies for funding and information that they will best defend these interests and safeguard their own independence. And we should always ask who is really represented by patients’ groups: patients, drug companies or some ambiguous combination of the two?

©Prescrire February 2005

Source: "Firmes et associations de patients : des liaisons dangereuses" Rev Prescrire 2005 ; 25 (258) : 133-134.

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