However, some patient advocates think the risks are worth it. We are increasingly marginalized and require multiple interventions to maintain our health and security. The hazards of industry sponsorship are heightened, say critics, by a frequent failure of industry-funded groups to identify their corporate ties. Often it is difficult for the public to know if an NGO receives partial or complete industry funding even after reviewing its brochures or attending an open meeting held in its name. The suppression of industry financing enables even industry-dominated patient groups to appear independent, with potentially serious consequences.
Patient groups can help spread awareness of new drugs at a pre-launch stage.
A series of public meetings, held in the foundation's name, were orchestrated by Glaxo. Eventually this patient group began to feel uncomfortable about the heavy-handed treatment by its sponsor and refused to continue its participation. In response, Glaxo managers diverted the funding to the Canadian Association of Neuroscience Nurses. Patient groups often see dissemination of information about new treatments as one of their primary functions and may distribute industry promotional information about new drug treatments without assessing it critically. Alerting people with certain medical conditions that new treatment may soon be available helps ready a market for when the drug is approved.