WHO open to “lobbying” by business

The World Health Organization has been warned that it was now open to undue influence from commercial interests after member states agreed a framework for its relations with industry and other bodies.

Delegates at last week’s World Health Assembly in Geneva agreed the Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors, a document that set out rules for the organisation’s relationship with bodies from industry, academia, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and philanthropic organisations.

Member states spent the last two years negotiating the framework, which WHO described as a “major step in WHO’s governance reform.” It said that the framework gave the organisation “comprehensive policies and procedures” on engagement with such bodies.

“The …