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Charity and Big Pharma make uneasy bedfellows Charity and Big Pharma make uneasy bedfellows
(5 months later)
Development charities and multinational drug giants have not always appeared obvious bedfellows. The International Aids Conference that takes place every two years – last year in Washington DC – used to be famous for the trashing of drug company stands by activists who had at least the sympathy of mainstream charities. Red paint, for the blood of those who could not afford the price of drugs to keep them alive, flowed in the halls.Development charities and multinational drug giants have not always appeared obvious bedfellows. The International Aids Conference that takes place every two years – last year in Washington DC – used to be famous for the trashing of drug company stands by activists who had at least the sympathy of mainstream charities. Red paint, for the blood of those who could not afford the price of drugs to keep them alive, flowed in the halls.
So the union of Save the Children and GlaxoSmithKline, launched yesterday in Kenya, is something of a landmark moment. It raises questions about Big Pharma and about the future direction of NGOs and development as a whole. And it has left a number of people working in aid feeling very uncomfortable.So the union of Save the Children and GlaxoSmithKline, launched yesterday in Kenya, is something of a landmark moment. It raises questions about Big Pharma and about the future direction of NGOs and development as a whole. And it has left a number of people working in aid feeling very uncomfortable.
Save the Children and GSK talk of the five-year partnership as a groundbreaking new deal. GSK will reformulate products and develop others in line with Save the Children's advice on what poor countries really need to save babies' lives, while helping to train healthworkers. GSK's chief executive, Sir Andrew Witty, says it is all about speeding things up. From the realisation that babies die for lack of antibiotics to making available a dose-sized pack of powder that families in Africa can use (if they have clean water) takes too long. Witty wants to cut through grindingly slow bureaucratic processes. If he says "jump" in GSK's west London or Philadelphia corporate HQs, people jump. Things get done. That's what they are paid for.Save the Children and GSK talk of the five-year partnership as a groundbreaking new deal. GSK will reformulate products and develop others in line with Save the Children's advice on what poor countries really need to save babies' lives, while helping to train healthworkers. GSK's chief executive, Sir Andrew Witty, says it is all about speeding things up. From the realisation that babies die for lack of antibiotics to making available a dose-sized pack of powder that families in Africa can use (if they have clean water) takes too long. Witty wants to cut through grindingly slow bureaucratic processes. If he says "jump" in GSK's west London or Philadelphia corporate HQs, people jump. Things get done. That's what they are paid for.
Witty and Save's chief executive, Justin Forsyth, have been moving towards this union for some time. Witty has declared that his company must do what it can to improve the health of people in poor countries. Since 2009, he has made a series of moves, from cutting the prices of GSK's drugs in the poorest countries to reinvesting 20% of the profits they make locally. This is, he says, another step on that road.Witty and Save's chief executive, Justin Forsyth, have been moving towards this union for some time. Witty has declared that his company must do what it can to improve the health of people in poor countries. Since 2009, he has made a series of moves, from cutting the prices of GSK's drugs in the poorest countries to reinvesting 20% of the profits they make locally. This is, he says, another step on that road.
Forsyth is a mover and shaker, who arrived to head Save the Children from Downing Street, where he was director of strategic communications for Gordon Brown, having previously worked for Tony Blair. He ran the communications strategy for the London G20 summit. He is another man who believes in getting things done. For Save, this is a pragmatic move. Money is short in development and getting shorter as the economic situation does not improve. Increasing amounts of the Department for International Development's funding look likely to be spent on what used to be called defence. All aid organisations are looking for more help. Big Pharma has shedloads of cash. GSK made nearly $9bn in profits in 2011.Forsyth is a mover and shaker, who arrived to head Save the Children from Downing Street, where he was director of strategic communications for Gordon Brown, having previously worked for Tony Blair. He ran the communications strategy for the London G20 summit. He is another man who believes in getting things done. For Save, this is a pragmatic move. Money is short in development and getting shorter as the economic situation does not improve. Increasing amounts of the Department for International Development's funding look likely to be spent on what used to be called defence. All aid organisations are looking for more help. Big Pharma has shedloads of cash. GSK made nearly $9bn in profits in 2011.
But does the link-up of GSK and Save wash away the sins of Big Pharma? It will do GSK's reputation no harm at all, but it won't stop the criticism. It was muted yesterday, because NGOs do not want to throw mud at each other, but there were plenty who did not feel like throwing confetti. If GSK really wants to do good, says Médecins Sans Frontières, it should pledge truly low prices for all its HIV drugs in the developing world.But does the link-up of GSK and Save wash away the sins of Big Pharma? It will do GSK's reputation no harm at all, but it won't stop the criticism. It was muted yesterday, because NGOs do not want to throw mud at each other, but there were plenty who did not feel like throwing confetti. If GSK really wants to do good, says Médecins Sans Frontières, it should pledge truly low prices for all its HIV drugs in the developing world.
Health Action International is blunter. It fears an agenda set in London, a programme of good works that will run in parallel with the domestic policies of the governments of Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and risk undermining them. "Has anyone consulted, and really found out, what is required or is this initiative driven by the needs of CSR [corporate social responsibility], and, it has to be said, an organisation that, like us all, is looking for funds in the face of economic crisis?" asked Dr Tim Reed, its executive director.Health Action International is blunter. It fears an agenda set in London, a programme of good works that will run in parallel with the domestic policies of the governments of Kenya and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and risk undermining them. "Has anyone consulted, and really found out, what is required or is this initiative driven by the needs of CSR [corporate social responsibility], and, it has to be said, an organisation that, like us all, is looking for funds in the face of economic crisis?" asked Dr Tim Reed, its executive director.
The partners aim to save the lives of a million babies. It's hard to argue with that. And it's a safe bet they will. But the debate over whether this is the best way to do it will run and run.The partners aim to save the lives of a million babies. It's hard to argue with that. And it's a safe bet they will. But the debate over whether this is the best way to do it will run and run.
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