Call To Examine Drug Dealer Connections Of Australian Swine Flu 'Experts'

An independent inquiry should look at Australia's swine flu pandemic response, including whether expert advisers had conflicts of interest involving drug companies, an infectious disease expert has said. Professor Peter Collignon from the Australian National University said pharmaceutical companies could have influenced the government's response to the pandemic last year, especially if its advisers had worked with the industry. He said the government should release the names of all the advisers it relied on during the pandemic, including their previous and current dealings with pharmaceutical companies to ensure transparency.  Professor Collignon said. ''What we need is very transparent dealings. Those on the committees making decisions, we need to know who they are and the details of what contacts they have with the pharmaceutical industry.'' Critics had raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest that might have helped the drugs industry influence decisions on huge orders for special vaccines against A(H1N1) flu. A spokeswoman for the Federal Department of Health said she would not name the more than 50 experts who had contributed to the government's response.

Julia Medew, Brisbane Times

Related Links:
* List of Members of, and Advisor to, the International Health Regulations (2005) Emergency Committee concerning Influenza Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
Information Release, World Health Organisation
* WHO Releases Conflicted Swine Flu Pandemic Panel Members List
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* WHO And The Pandemic Flu Conspiracies
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