ASBESTOS INDUSTRIES SHOULD BE BANNED FROM ENGAGING WITH WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

By: Chris Placitella @ Mar 19, 2015

The World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed its policy not to engage with the tobacco and arms industries at an executive board meeting held in January 2015. From March 30 to April 1, 2015, member states will meet to discuss the proposed Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors. During this meeting they will decide what proposals should be submitted to the World Health Assembly, which will make a final decision at its May 2015 meeting.

Dr. Philip Landrigan and his co-signers have requested that the asbestos industry be put on the list of entities with which the WHO will not engage. They point out that all the reasons for refusing to engage with the tobacco industry apply to the asbestos industry:

• It is a deadly industry that causes unnecessary deaths.
• The asbestos industry works to defeat the efforts of the WHO to stop the use of asbestos and instead seeks to increase use of asbestos in order to increase its profits.
• Just as is true for the tobacco industry, overwhelming evidence shows that asbestos companies have repeatedly and systematically interfered with legitimate scientific research, and repeatedly used industry-funded scientists and their industry-facilitated findings to deceive consumers and undermine public health.
• Just as is true for the tobacco industry, the asbestos industry uses lobbyists and disreputable tactics to undermine and subvert national and international efforts to stop the use of asbestos.
• The asbestos industry repeatedly puts out false information claiming that the WHO supports the use of chrysotile asbestos. The asbestos industry threatens scientists who speak up about harm caused by chrysotile asbestos.

They also note that the corrupting and corrosive impact of the asbestos industry on national and international public health will cause more people to die from asbestos-related diseases. They state:

“The evidence is clear that it is inappropriate, counter-productive and harmful for the WHO to engage with the asbestos industry or individuals or organizations representing the interests of the asbestos industry.”

The asbestos industry is a deadly industry that has been found guilty of criminal practices. Ministers of Health, particularly in the many countries where the asbestos industry has inflicted such enormous harm and suffering, should recommend that the asbestos industry be placed on the list of entities with which the WHO will not engage.

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