Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Is the Private Sector Changing Global Health Priorities?

    Two decades ago, the World Health Organization and other public agencies were the leaders in improving health in the developing world and battling the private sector on issues like infant formula and tobacco.

    • rss
    • Share
    KCRW placeholderBy Sara Terry • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    Two decades ago, the World Health Organization and other public agencies were the leaders in improving health in the developing world and battling the private sector on issues like infant formula and tobacco. But today, inter-governmental bodies like the WHO are being outpaced by private sector efforts led by multi-national businesses such as Coca-Cola, Exxon Mobil and drug companies like Pfizer. What's driven the change? Why have some of the corporations blamed for public health problems become leaders in the global fight against deadly disease? Are there conflicts of interest?

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Is the Private Sector Changing Global Health Priorities?
    1. 0:00Super Committee on the Brink of Failure
    2. 7:48Is the Private Sector Changing Global Health Priorities?You’re reading this
    3. 40:20Violent Clashes between Police, Protesters in Tahrir Square
    • KCRW placeholder

      Sara Terry

      The Aftermath Project

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • Sonya Geis with wavy brown hair wearing a black dress with red accents and decorative earrings against a white background.

      Sonya Geis

      Senior Managing Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Christian Bordal

      Managing Producer, Greater LA

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sonia Shah

      science journalist and author

    • KCRW placeholder

      Pam Bolton

      GBC Health

    • KCRW placeholder

      Bill Jeffrey

      Center for Science in the Public Interest Canada

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Is the Private Sector Changing Global Health Priorities?
    1. 0:00Super Committee on the Brink of Failure
    2. 7:48Is the Private Sector Changing Global Health Priorities?You’re reading this
    3. 40:20Violent Clashes between Police, Protesters in Tahrir Square
    Back to To the Point