Eight out of ten patient advocacy groups accept money from drug and medical device companies.
Pharmaceutical donations make up more than half of the yearly income of some patient advocacy groups.
Are these good natured corporate donations, or just another way that Big Pharma exerts their influence beyond corporate walls?
That question isn’t an easy one to answer. But the first step in understanding how large of a role pharmaceutical companies play in organizations like the American Diabetes Association or the American Heart Association is to follow the money.
Pharmaceutical donations make up more than half of the yearly income of some patient advocacy groups, according to a 2017 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. But because there are few reporting policies, it is hard for the public to determine whether or not corporate donations may be affecting the credibility of the patient groups they rely on and donate to.
Kaiser Health News wants to change that. Their Pre$cription for Power database compiles all of the donations patient groups receive from pharmaceutical and medical device companies. We took a closer look at the patient groups that received the most corporate donations.
To read the article by Caroline Cornell
