G to strict policy suggestions that preserve our independence. Among

four Hirst J. Charities and patient groups should declare interests. BMJ 2003;326:1211. (31 May).Competing interests: PML is chief executive with the Skin Care Campaign..1 Herxheimer A. Relationships involving the pharmaceutical industry and patients' organisations. BMJ 2003;326:120810. (31 Could.)Competing interests: None declared.1 Hirst J. title= ajhp.120120-QUAN-57 Charities and patient groups ought to declare interests. BMJ 2003;326:1211. (31 May well.)Declaration of competing interests is uncommon in Italian breast cancer associations title= journal.pone.0115303 Editor--Herxheimer reported and commented on relationships amongst pharmaceutical corporations and consumers' and patients' associations.1 This can be a "hot" topic: the debate on transparency of fund raising for voluntary wellness associations is far from getting resolved, and consumers' umbrella associations have an increasingly important function in discussing wellness at a European level. In Italy, no less than amongst the one hundred breast cancer associations belonging towards the Italian forum of Europa Donna,2 three transparency of fund raising is rarely discussed and few information are offered. Using a standardised self administered questionnaire around the traits of breast cancer associations, sponsored in aspect by Komen Italia Onlus, we collected some information around the sponsorship relations of 67 breast cancer associations. The majority of the funds come from person donations, and a single third of breast cancer associations received funds from pharmaceutical companies (box). In the identical survey we also asked irrespective of whether breast cancer associations had prepared a document around the transparency of their relations MedChemExpress Fasudil (Hydrochloride) having a sponsor (declaration of competing interests). Only 5 breast cancerDiabetes UK has long recognised value of transparency in funding Editor--Diabetes UK has extended recognised the significance of transparency and accountability to our members, as described by Hirst in her letter.1 Because the largest patient based charity in the United kingdom, with.G to strict policy recommendations that maintain our independence. One of our key roles would be to keep people today with arthritis informed about new developments that may serve as an aid for people today living together with the illness. The Nice suggestions on COX 2 inhibitors fell firmly into this category and enabled quite a few people today with arthritis to find out of a brand new and potentially useful course of remedy. Hirst wins a sympathetic ear in her call for transparency. Arthritis Care has for a lot of years listed all pharmaceutical enterprise donations and grants in its annual critique. Over the past 5 years (1998-2002) contributions in the pharmaceutical business constituted much less than 6.five with the total income for the period.William Butler chief executive WilliamB@arthritiscare.org.uk David Doyle consultant rheumatologist Richard Hull consultant rheumatologist Arthritis Care, London NW1 2HD Neil Betteridge (director of communications), Kieran Kettleton (head of public policy and campaigns), and Mo Atchia (media relations officer), all of Arthritis Care, are coauthors of this letter.Competing interests: None declared.1 Herxheimer A. Relationships among the pharmaceutical market and patients' organisations. BMJ 2003;326:120810. (31 May well.) two Mosconi P. Italian Forum Europa Donna. Customer well being data: the role of breast cancer associations. Breast Cancer Res Therapy 2002;76:89-94. three Mosconi P, Kodraliu G, on behalf of Italian Forum of Europa Donna.