Philip Morris International-funded ‘Foundation for a Smoke-Free World’: analysing its claims of independence

Author:

van der Eijk Yvette,Bero Lisa AORCID,Malone Ruth E

Abstract

The Foundation for a Smoke-Free World was launched in September 2017 with an announced 12-year funding commitment of $1 billion from Philip Morris International (PMI). The Foundation claims that its governing documents (certificate of incorporation, bylaws and a pledge agreement) ensure that it has an independent research agenda and stringent protections from conflicts of interest. We analysed the text of these governing documents. Their provisions have multiple loopholes, particularly regarding conflicts of interest. Further, these documents cannot substitute for other important documentation such as information about PMI’s internal business case for investing $1 billion in the Foundation, an unwaivable conflict of interest policy, annual disclosure statements, copies of pre-Foundation establishment correspondence between key individuals, all signed contracts or salary information, none of which, as of July 2018, the Foundation has made publicly available. Even if these were released, however, it is problematic that the Foundation’s fundamental purpose was decided on and its leader selected following a tobacco company-paid, privately negotiated arrangement with the Foundation’s president. It cannot be regarded as independent.

Funder

Mary Harms/Nursing Alumni Endowed Chair

Publisher

BMJ

Subject

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Health(social science)

Reference57 articles.

1. Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, 2017. Media advisory: Foundation forming to eliminate smoking worldwide. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170912006864/en/MEDIA-ADVISORY-Foundation-Forming-Eliminate-Smoking-Worldwide (accessed 26 Jun 2018).

2. Foundation for a Smoke-Free World, 2017. our vision https://www.smoke-freeworld.org/about-us (accessed 11 Oct 2017).

3. International PM, 2017. Philip Morris international announces support for the establishment of the foundation for a smoke-free world https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170912006953/en/Philip-Morris-International-Announces-Support-Establishment-Foundation (accessed 26 Jun 2018).

4. Tobacco giant wants to eliminate smoking . . .

5. Towards a smoke-free world? Philip Morris International's new Foundation is not credible

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3