Why to report a COI with us?
In accordance with the WPHNA aims, and under the principle that the highest attainable level of health is a human right, we aim to employ and promote ethical principles, including those of transparency, equity and respect. In addition, we are committed to advocacy and action based on reliable evidence. With this philosophy, we are inviting our members and colleagues , to report and document situations where risks of interference and conflict of interest might arise in public health nutrition policymaking, program delivery and research.
This section is an open space for documenting situations that have been identified to violate ethical principles or obstruct public health nutrition goals and means.
The consolidation of reported cases in an online database is part of the process to compile evidence of COI, and through exposure to help protect public policies, program delivery and research from the interference of the private sector dedicated to commercial activities that leverage harmful foods and young child feeding practices or jeopardize the food and agriculture systems.
Two types of conflict of interests have been recognized by experts groups:
- Conflicts between private and public interests in the development and implementation of food, nutrition and health policies, programs, dietary advice, and research;
- Governments and other public organisations efforts to regulate the harmful actions of the private sector* are absent or weak due to lobbying, bribery, or strong and systematic political resistance by the private sector* against regulatory measures.
In setting up this section, WPHNA hopes to:
- Identify, discuss, publicize and monitor conflict of interest cases, and identify alternatives for dealing with them.
- To collect and systematize existing cases in different regions and countries.
- Identify and monitor interactions between public and private sectors.
- Share and promote successful experiences of dealing with and stopping COI situations.
- To shine a light on behaviour that otherwise tends to go unnoticed, with the aim of ensuring that anyone who engages in COI situation realizes the risks involved.
If you have any queries or comments about the process, please contact coireports@wphna.org
* Private sector refers to any industry that produces, promotes, or commercializes products harmful to public health or nutritional status, such as national or transnational corporations producing ultra-processed foods, sweetened beverages and /or alcoholic beverages and corporations related to the agribusiness industry producing or distributing pesticides and/or transgenic seeds.
How to report a case?
To report a case it is necessary to fill in an online form. The form includes a section to disclose the name and/or institution of the person reporting and their contact details. This information will only be available and disclosed to the COI Committee for internal use and correspondence, but will not be disclosed to the public (unless you choose to by ticking the box on the corresponding section).
The steps of reporting COI cases are as follow:
- Fill in the online form and provide a contact name and email.
- Submit the online form on this website adding any documentary evidence compiled (reports, webpage screenshots, or other documentation supporting the case, if available).
- Once your report has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation.
- The submitted case will be reviewed confidentially by an appointed expert Committee on Conflict of Interest, which will provide feedback.
- After the case has been discussed and if it is approved, the case will be available in this section for consultation and public discussion.