WHO denies charges of pharma companies influencing its decisions

Denying charges of being hand in glove with pharma companies to fuel the swine flu scare, the WHO has said it has numerous safeguards in place to manage influence by the profit-driven pharmaceutical industry on its expert group of advisors.

The world body has said alerts regarding the spread of H1N1 virus were issued by an Experts Committee, the members of which are drawn from a roster of about 160 experts covering a range of public health areas.

"The experts sign a confidentiality agreement and provide a declaration that details professional or financial interests that could compromise the impartiality of their advice. Procedures are in place for identifying, investigating and assessing potential conflicts of interest, disclosing them, and taking appropriate action such as excluding an expert from participating in a meeting," the world body said.

According to international media reports, the swine flu scare was exaggerated to benefit pharma companies.

The reports alleged that several members of the World Health Organization vaccine board who pushed countries to buy the H1N1 vaccine had significant ties with the pharma companies.

The WHO in a statement said, "All members of the Emergency Committee sign a confidentiality agreement, provide a declaration of interests, and agree to give their consultative time freely, without compensation."

The global organisation also said, "The framework for membership is set out in the International Health Regulations. Each State Party to the Regulations is entitled to nominate one member of the roster and additional experts are appointed by the director general."

Recommendations of the Emergency Committee are immediately made public on the WHO web site together with the relevant decisions of the Director-General, it said.

The agency further said its regulations provide an orderly, rules-based mechanism for coordinating the response to public health emergencies of international concern, such as that caused by the H1N1 pandemic virus.

The Emergency Committee advises the WHO director general on matters such as declaring a public health emergency of international concern, the need to raise the level of pandemic alert following spread of the H1N1 virus, and the need to introduce temporary measures, such as restrictions on travel or trade.

Final decisions are made by the director general, as guided by the Committee's advice, it added.