Humanitas has also signed, at the hands of the scientific director of the Istituto Clinico Humanitas IRCCS Alberto Mantovani, the document – drawn up by the Mario Negri Institute – which stresses “the importance of the independence of scientific societies and other Italian institutions from the tobacco industry”.
The document and the collection of signatures
The letter was signed by numerous doctors, companies, research institutes and scientific societies “who undertake not to involve tobacco companies in the scientific debate”.
The need of the community of experts to draw attention to the “danger of interference” by tobacco companies within the scientific debate arises after some associations have received sponsorship from, for example, Philip Morris International to organize their conferences, allowing tobacco manufacturers to “gain an active role in the scientific debate and to use the traditional forums of the fight against smoking for promotional purposes,” the note reads.
“Given the irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the industry and those of public health – as written in the document circulated – it is of primary importance that Italian institutions, hospitals, universities and scientific societies do not involve or invite tobacco companies to medical debates or national scientific congresses.
The list of signatories is still in progress and will be updated periodically, so it is possible for scientific societies and other institutions to join the appeal.
