Conflicts of Interest: Patient Groups
NAMI’s Pharma Funders – Serial Off-label Promoter Astrazeneca Tops the List
The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) until recently was reluctant to reveal the source of its funding. But thanks to Sen. Grassley we now can learn NAMI’s sources for Major Foundation and Corporate Support.
The $$$ amounts–one might call them, "fees for services rendered"–reveal the truth about who wields the greatest influence on NAMI policies–and whose interests are being served by NAMI.
Sen. Grassley obtained documents confirming NAMI as a front group for pharma companies who underwrite ¾ of NAMI donations—in 2006 to 2008 that was a hefty $23 million.
In its response to Sen. Grassley’s probe, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) acknowledges that a majority of its funds over the last five years, 56% on average, have come from drug corporations.
Grassley’s team has asked NAMI to disclose the specifics of its funding so that people with mental illness and their families, as well as the public and healthcare officials, can see for themselves how conflicted this advocacy group is.
These paid lobbying efforts on behalf of industry are carried out under the pretext of advocacy in the public interest.
Direct to consumer drug advertisements are so successful, they can convince people they're sick and need the advertised drug–
"After another four months or so on antidepressants, bringing me to a total of 10 months between the steroids and antidepressants, I was suddenly flipped into this hypomania."
Fortune Magazine confirms our report (October) that "The prospect of a bird flu outbreak may be panicking people around the globe, but it’s proving to be very good news for Defense Secretary."
On Tuesday evening, 38 U.S. Senators with about $13.4 million in pharmaceuticaql stock holdings approved a sweetheart deal absolving the drug / vaccine industry from liability .
