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In the case of CeclorCD, Lilly spokesman Fritz Frommeyer insists that the company's impulse to do good was authentic. He concedes that the tablets were excess stock nearing expiration and that the tax benefits were "one facet" of the decision, but he adds, "We felt that it was the right thing to do." AmeriCares, one of the groups that distributed the medicine, was unaware that such large quantities of CeclorCD had been shipped through other agencies. Operations director Andrew Hannah acknowledges that the drug was not used "to the extent first anticipated" but argues that given the circumstances, the organization felt that sending even this antibiotic would be helpful.
The WHO is drafting guidelines that would, among other things, limit gifts to medications that are included in essential-drug lists and that would not expire for at least 12 months. Some in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry are lobbying for exceptions. A consultant has warned ominously that the guidelines might force all drug donations from the U.S. to cease. But Hogerzeil expects a compromise to be adopted by the WHO at a meeting of U.N. agencies this month. "Bona fide donations will still be permitted," he says. If he is right, then countries suffering from natural and man-made disaster should continue to receive drugs, but only those that clearly do some good.