New Cochrane policy tightens limits on industry funding

A year long struggle over funding of the Cochrane Collaboration has been settled: a policy just issued by the organisation will limit industry funding.

The collaboration is an international organisation that reviews health interventions and disseminates the information worldwide. James Neilson, who co-chairs the collaboration's steering group, said the policy reflects the overwhelming consensus of members that they want a “clear separation between production of reviews and commercial sponsorship.”

Some Cochrane members opposed the move, saying the restrictions would threaten the financial viability of certain elements of the work of the Cochrane Collaboration which are currently sponsored by industry.

“We're not sure about the impact,” said Dr …