Follow the Money - Commercial interests influence global health policy

A new report, ‘Follow the Money’ from the Australian Medical Professionals’ Society (AMPS), reveals startling evidence that undermines the credibility of two treaties that are about to come into force in Australia.

The report reveals how the World Health Organization (WHO), which developed the treaties, has allowed commercial interests to influence global health policy.

‘Many people think that the WHO is an independent body focused on improving global health,’ said Dr Duncan Syme, President of AMPS. ‘However, our investigation shows that the WHO is primarily acting for the pharmaceutical industry, exchanging money for favours’.

The report found that the WHO invites donors by offering a 3400% return on investment and that it allows donors to influence its activities.

It also found that the majority of the WHO’s top-100 non-country voluntary donors for the period 2022-23 were pharmaceutical companies, or had interests that aligned with, or profited from, the pharmaceutical industry. Its investigation of these donors showed the following:

• The WHO received over US$28million directly from eight pharmaceutical companies, contravening its own Guidelines.

• 98% of the top-100 donor organisations received funds from the pharmaceutical industry, were engaged in promoting or were expanding the pharmaceutical market.

• 100% of UN agencies, banks, research institutions, regional administration, non-pharmaceutical businesses, and other bodies were linked to the pharmaceutical industry or engaged in pharmaceutical projects.

• Together, the WHO’s top-100 donors influenced the Organization to the tune of $2.8 billion.

‘The fact that the WHO is promising such lucrative returns on investment and allowing donors to specify how their funds are to be used is a real conflict of interest for the Organization,’ said Professor Ian Brighthope from the Australasian College of Nutritional and Environmental Medicine. ‘It is clear that the pharmaceutical industry is having an untoward influence on global health policy and that the best interests of the public are not being served.’

AMPS is calling on Australian authorities to recognise the compromised nature of the WHO’s policies and to withdraw from two WHO “treaties”. The IHR amendments are due to come into effect on 19 September 2025 if our government fails to reject them by 19 July 2025. It further calls on the Federal Government to withdraw from the WHO until such time as the Organization cleans up its act.

‘Australians deserve the best possible approach to health,’ says Dr Syme, ‘not policies designed by pharmaceutical industries to profit their shareholders at taxpayers’ expense’.

Download the report https://amps.redunion.com.au/policy-advocacy

Media enquiries: AMPS - Australian Medical Professionals' Society hotline@redunion.com.au | www.amps.redunion.com.au