We have included the media because the influence of the industry spans every sphere of opinion forming in the Uk.Nowhere is his more true than with the media. They are there at the lunches,the launches, the lavish international conferences. Remember all the stories of new "wonder drug" in the newspapers.Those "info"spots on daytime TV. The postive spin is not entirely by chance! Read on.
Media Docs we are looking for your pledge. We will be contacting you!
Trips
"Occasionally, journalists are invited to European meetings. On one I attended, in a European tourist destination, I was put up in a nice hotel with chocolates as a gift of the European Pharmaceutical Industry awaiting me in my room. All drinks meals etc were paid for by friendly representatives from the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry. Over the visit, they rarely spoke about medicines. They seemed to expect to get drunk and that the journalists would want to do the same. I have no don't doubt the is the purpose of this hospitality was to nurture cosy relationships."
Sponsoring Parliamentary meetings
"The Association of the British Pharmaceutical industry in Scotland will either, on its own, or by linking up with charities such as Diabetes UK (which receives a lot of funding from the pharma companies) hold meetings close to the Scottish Parliament......I attended on mental health meeting, attended by several pharmaceutical company reps and hosted by the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, ministers chatted shoulder to shoulder with the reps. The meeting was meant to raise awareness about mental health issues but there was nothing new discussed…….. It was interesting to seen representatives from the pharmaceutical companies and industry body on first name terms with ministers. There appeared no real point to the meeting other than to get industry reps access to ministers……. I attended a few meetings on the Holyrood circuit. At each, there was Mrs Pharma and Mr ABPI laughing, eating, chatting informally with major policy formers such as think tank directors and government officials… industry representatives are there mingling or hosting while the decisions are made…. As people walk in, journalists, charities, patient groups, politicians, government officials they always receive a friendly smile and glass of wine provided by the pharmaceutical industry…."
Lunches
"Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry regularly organises expensive lunches in upmarket restaurants for journalists to have informal chats with industry representatives. There is generally no news line and no story although representatives will use the occasion to reiterate their side of the argument eg how many people the pharmaceutical industry employs in the UK."