Critical discernment in collaboration with private partners.

Enacting these suggestions may require public health associations to change their mode of operation. Some activities, particularly in the context of conferences, may have to be discontinued due to a lack of financial resources. If public health associations decide not to reject sponsoring, they should at least be completely frank and honest—merely declaring a potential conflict of interest will not suffice. Professional societies which accept industry sponsoring need to explain to the public that doing so is likely to affect their judgment; and that their advice in matters relevant to public health must therefore be taken with a pinch of salt. Conflicts of Interest: HW and OR attended one or more EUPHA/ EPH conferences; OR and KB attended one WFPHA World Congress.