Mapping the Donations of Pharma Companies in Greece: The Case of Scientific Societies

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Published: May 6, 2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/npse.34419
Keywords:
Pharmaceutical Companies Donations Scientific Societies Transparency Accountability
Souzana Chatzivasileiou
Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, Greece
Alkinoos Emmanouil-Kalos
Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, Greece
Iris Panagiota Efthymiou
Faculty of Business, University of Greenwich, UK
Dimitris Batakis
Technical University of Crete, Greece.
Athanassios Vozikis
Department of Economics, University of Piraeus, Greece
Abstract

Pharmaceutical companies are major donors to medical-related civil society organizations worldwide, which has raised concerns about their influence on public health policy. The support provided includes financial donations, in-kind contributions and collaborations in research and awareness initiatives. However, there is a lack of transparency when it comes to these donations. While they contribute to the ability of recipient organizations to meet their operational needs and to conduct research, they also raise questions about the role of pharmaceutical companies in the formulation of public health policies. This paper aims to map the donations made by pharmaceutical companies to scientific societies in Greece, examining the nature and extent of the support provided, as well as examining the impact of these donations on the scientific community. Finally, recommendations are provided on how transparency and accountability can be strengthened. Further research is needed to understand the full extent of these donations and their impact on public health governance in Greece.

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