by Medscape, a leading global provider of medical news, education, and analytics, has announced the termination of its partnership with Philip Morris International (PMI) following an investigation revealing the tobacco giant’s funding of continuing medical education (CME) programs.
In a letter to concerned parties, Medscape acknowledged the error in accepting funding from PMI and pledged not to engage with any tobacco industry-affiliated organizations in the future.
The BMJ, a renowned medical journal, uncovered the deal, which included plans for 13 educational programs, podcasts, and a TV-like series, collectively known as the PMI Curriculum. The BMJ also reported similar initiatives in Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
The revelation sparked widespread outrage among the medical community and academics, leading to calls for certification bodies to prohibit such collaborations.
A spokesperson for Philip Morris International defended the partnership, stating that smoke-free products can contribute positively to public health. They expressed concern over efforts to restrict educational programs that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the medical community deem necessary. The spokesperson argued that these actions could prolong the use and potentially increase consumption of combustible cigarettes, the most harmful form of nicotine use.
Despite the controversy, Medscape has decided to sever ties with PMI, emphasizing its commitment to maintaining the trust and integrity of the medical community.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
