But first …Even patient advocacy groups collect drug company dollarsPharma money is all over the place — in universities, companies doing continuing medical education for doctors and in prominent patient advocacy organizations that are household names across America. The American Cancer Society and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, together received $23.1 million. The question is whether the money affects the heavyweight groups’ advocacy. Drug companies’ payments to patient groups can be — but aren't always — included in annual filings to the IRS or in charitable giving reports. “Those are all great things that patient advocacy groups can and should be doing,” McCoy said.

Source: New York Times December 15, 2023 13:01 UTC