ECCA Funding Sources

The ECCA is funded by donations from the general public, sales of the Pearl of Wisdom, government grants, donations of services from private sector companies and unrestricted educational grants from industry.

Structure of the ECCA

The ECCA was structured specifically to accommodate funding from industry but remain free of commercial influence by devolving decision-making to the membership: 

  1. At the end of each year, the plan of actions for the coming year is circulated to the membership for discussion, amendment and approval. Once approved, any substantial changes to the plan require re-approval from the members.
  2. The educational materials, which are the main output of the ECCA, are developed using a modified Delphi process in which all ECCA members are consulted, with the materials being revised according to the comments. The revised materials are then re-circulated and the process repeated until consensus is achieved and the members give their final approval to the materials. These consensus-agreed materials are then adapted to medical practice in each country by the national members where required but still retain the core of the consensus-agreed information.

This structure means the funds are received and administered by the ECCA Brussels office while the key decisions are made by the ECCA members who do not receive a direct financial benefit from the companies.

Code of Practice for Interacting with Industry

The ECCA’s interaction with industry is also governed by a strict Code of Practice.

Funds Received by the ECCA During the 2008 Financial Year

  General Public

Donations from the General Public - €7,000

 

 

Sales of the Pearl of Wisdom - €29,000

 

 

Government Grants

European Commission Grants:

The Role of Chronic Infections in the Development of Cancer (INCA) EC Grant No: LSHC-CT-2005-018704 - €18,750/year

Multi-type Content Repurposing and Sharing in Medical Education (mEducator) EC Grant No ECP-2008-EDU-418006 - €30,000/year

 

Donations of Services

Aspect Consultancy provides media outreach, media relations, communications and public relations support to the ECCA

Worth Digital provides internet marketing and communications support to the ECCA

 

 

Unrestricted Educational Grants from Industry
Platinum Level €100,000

 

GlaxoSmithKline

 

Sanofi Pasteur MSD

Gold Level €50,000

 

Qiagen

Silver Level €25,000

 

Becton-Dickinson

 

Novartis

Bronze Level €10,000

Norchip