Centre for Health, Ethics and Society

Centre for Health, Ethics and Society (CHES) is described as "a joint venture" between the drug and health products company Johnson & Johnson and the the Madariaga European Foundation (MEF), which hosts CHES. 

History
CHES was formed in 2003 and has the stated aim of improving "European integration through dialogue and debate on healthcare, ethical and societal issues." It states that it acheieves this through "facilitating discussion and stakeholder dialogue, bringing together representatives of the EU institutions, academic, advocacy, corporate, government, medical and scientific organisations in order to influence the public policy arena." 

In its 2002-2003 Annual Report, MEF reported that "a Steering Committee has been set up to advise the overall management of the CHES" comprised of (pdf):
 * Michel Bourges-Maunoury (Chair),
 * Professor Robert Picht (College of Europe),
 * Scott Ratzan (Johnson&Johnson);
 * Michael Rogers (European Commission)

Events
The primary activity of CHES is hosting 'roundtables' where "all stakeholders meet to discuss topical EU health issues.". On its website it states that these are designed to "influence the public policy arena". Since its formation CHES has organised the following events:
 * 16 October 2003: Information to Patients - Which Way forward in Europe?
 * 26 November 2003: The Economic Impact of Pharmaceutical Parallel Trade: A Stakeholder Analysis
 * 27 February 2004: Patient Mobility in Europe: Implementing the EU High Level Reflection Process;
 * 29 June 2004: The Informed Patient 2004: An EU Framework for Action;
 * 28 October 2004: The Value of Health Information: Designing a EU Reseach Project;
 * 23 February 2005: The Value of Health Information: Designing an EU Research Project;
 * 23 May 2005: The EU and Medicines for Paediatric use - Which Way forward?
 * 31 May 2005: The EU and HIV/AIDS in Europe and its Neighbourhood - Policy Priorities and Actions;
 * 07 July 2005: Stakeholder perspectives on the new EU Health & Consumer Programme;
 * 20 September 2005: Putting informal care on the EU Policy agenda;
 * 23 November 2005: Towards an EU Mental Health Strategy - Health Stakeholders Perspectives;
 * 28 March 2006: Health in the 7th Framework Programme for Research & Development: Optimising Health Care Delivery;
 * 12 May 2006: Developing an EU Strategy on Health and Nutrition - The Commission Green Paper and Next Steps;
 * 04 July 2006: Information to Patients - Knowing What Citizens Want - "a German Study with Implications for EU Policy";
 * 06 December 2006: The Consultation regarding EU Action on Health Services - Health Stakeholders' Perspectives.

Personnel

 * Christine Marking
 * Magali Auquier

Contact details
Website: http://212.123.1.53/ches.be/default_cd.asp

Other SourceWatch Resources

 * Drug industry
 * Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
 * Direct-to-consumer advertising in New Zealand
 * Direct-to-consumer advertising in the United States
 * Direct-to-consumer advertising: The Campaign To Overturn Europe's Ban
 * Direct-to-consumer advertising: CanWest's Bid to Overturn Canada's Ban
 * Disease awareness campaigns