Tackling NCDs: The Need to Address Alcohol Industry Interference and Policy Incoherence Across Sectors Comment on "Towards Preventing and Managing Conflict of Interest in Nutrition Policy? An Analysis of Submissions to a Consultation on a Draft WHO Tool".

Belinda Townsend,Mia Miller,Deborah Gleeson

doi:10.34172/ijhpm.2020.172

Abstract

Ralston et al highlight the ways that different actors in global nutrition governance conceptualise and frame the role of non-state actors in governance arrangements, including the potential for conflict of interest (COI) to undermine global health efforts. The authors argue that the World Health Organization (WHO) draft tool on managing COI in nutrition policy is an important innovation in global health, but that further research and refinement is needed for operationalising the management of COI with diverse actors in diverse contexts. In this commentary, reflecting on strategic framing and industry interference in policy-making, we argue for the urgent need for states and intergovernmental organisations to prevent alcohol industry interference in the development of national and global alcohol policy. We argue that policy incoherence remains a key barrier, where governments pursue health goals in the health sector while pursuing exports and market liberalisation of health harmful commodities in the trade sector.

Highlights

Ralston and colleagues[1] address an important issue in global health, that of how to manage non-state actors’ engagement with governments and intergovernmental organisations in ways that do not undermine or interfere with their mandates to promote public health
The World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which came into force in 2005, is a novel global health treaty which provides a range of measures for the reduction of tobacco consumption
As Ralston et al[1] note, it is within this context that the WHO draft tool on preventing and managing conflict of interest’ (COI) in nutrition policy was developed as guidance for Member States

Summary

Introduction

Ralston and colleagues[1] address an important issue in global health, that of how to manage non-state actors’ engagement with governments and intergovernmental organisations in ways that do not undermine or interfere with their mandates to promote public health. The need to develop mechanisms and tools to prevent industry interference that weakens public policy-making for health is important for all areas of government.

Results

Conclusion