Health Coalition Initiative - A Brief History
The Health Coalition Initiative is a network of voluntary health organisations and pharmaceutical companies who model partnership working in the way it is organised.
In 2007 HCI celebrates its tenth year. Its founding Seminar in 1997 broke new ground by bringing together 3 sets of partners to talk about their experiences of working together and this information together with survey material was published as the first guidelines on partnership between vhos and the pharmaceutical industry to be jointly produced.
In February 2005, once again as a result of workshops and seminars, the guidelines were revised and a new set of guidelines ‘A real experience model - a framework document for developing model agreements or compacts or partnerships between vhos and the pharmaceutical industry’ was launched in the House of Lords by Baroness Jill Pitkeathley.
The environment in which patient groups and the pharmaceutical industry work together is a challenging one, where misunderstanding and scepticism about motives abound. However, people who attend HCI workshops have found the opportunity to meet with colleagues and share experiences invaluable. They have been able to learn more about the other sector so that trust and confidence has developed, and sharing good practice has been helpful for people contemplating a partnership.
The range of workshops run by HCI over the years has been broad. They have covered numerous topics drawing senior people from the NHS and related bodies to share their insights and expertise. The focus of all the workshops has been on creating better understanding between the two sectors, and identifying common cause in a rapidly changing and developing NHS.
HCI has frequently partnered with other organisations in running workshops and has been grateful for the ongoing support of IBM where many of the workshops have been held in their excellent conference facilities on the SouthBank in London.
HCI has 10 pharmaceutical companies and 40 vhos in membership; it is managed by a small steering group drawn equally from vhos and the pharmaceutical industry. It has a part time organising secretary.