Sponsorship Policy

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Sponsorship policy for CAPGAN

CAPGAN represents a grouping of professionals from both developing and developed countries. The venues of CAPGAN conferences have alternated between developing and developed countries. Acceptance of sponsorship from the manufacturers of breastmilk substitutes for the 1994 Third Commonwealth Congress on Diarrhoea and Malnutrition in Hong Kong resulted in fierce and harsh criticism. The Fourth Congress held in Pakistan in 1997 was convened without the acceptance of such sponsorship. Acceptance of some limited sponsorship for the present meeting has resulted in the circulation of e-mails calling for a boycott and some potential speakers withdrew. Yet in August 2000, the 1st World Congress of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition held in the United States of America accepted very significant sponsorship from companies manufacturing infant formula. It was not apparent that there was any protest to this acceptance and the sponsoring companies were permitted to display and advertise their products in a fashion that would be considered by many to be in direct violation of WHO's Code of marketing breastmilk substitutes. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, the Australian College of Paediatricians and other paediatric organisations have drawn up guidelines on the acceptance of sponsorship for medical education and research from companies that manufacture and market infant formula. Such guidelines have generated diversity of opinion. A health worker, witnessing the death of a child from malnutrition as a result of the inappropriate promotion and use of infant formula, will passionately believe that acceptance of any infant formula sponsorship is immoral. Conversely the paediatrician working within the developed world may see the beneficial effects of special formulas for the management of certain gastroenterological conditions as very reasonable grounds for working actively with these same companies. CAPGAN's mix of professionals, with a common interest in diarrhoea and malnutrition and work experience in both developing and developed countries, provides the opportunity to foster debate. This session will formulate CAPGAN policy guidelines on this important and controversial issue.

Questions or comments to info@capgan.org or Fax: +852 26360020 or Tel: +852 26322861

Last modified: December 10, 2001