Published Version 07/06/2026
How we work with external partners
Haemochromatosis International (HI) is a global alliance of haemochromatosis associations based all over the world. Our aim is to improve the health of people with haemochromatosis by raising awareness of its diagnosis, treatment and management.
Membership of HI is restricted to haemochromatosis associations representing the interests of people with haemochromatosis in their countries. Our member organisations are largely managed by volunteer committees or boards and rely primarily on individual membership subscriptions and ad hoc donations to support their work. No member organisations currently receive significant funding from their respective governments.
The information below details how we identify and collaborate with external partners (i.e., non-members).
Who are our external partners?
HI works with a broad range of external partners, recognising that each brings its own perspectives, networks, and areas of expertise to the relationship. Before entering into any new partnership, we assess the potential value and mutual benefit of the collaboration in advancing our objectives.
Our external partners include, but are not limited to:
- Governments and healthcare agencies
- Researchers
- Donors and benevolent trusts
- Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
- Corporate sponsors ( for example, pharmaceutical and biomedical companies, diagnostic service providers and venesection service providers)
Governments and healthcare agencies
While individual member organisations engage with governments and health departments on behalf of their members, HI does not seek to establish relationships at national government levels. We do, however, support our member organisations in building relationships with governments and healthcare practitioners in their respective countries wherever possible.
Researchers
HI values the work of research organisations in identifying, testing and advancing new treatments for people living with haemochromatosis. We welcome input from these organisations to ensure we remain informed of current and emerging research and therapeutic developments.
Individual donors and benevolent trusts or foundations
HI welcomes gifts and financial support from individual donors and independent benevolent trusts or foundations. Where donors wish to support specific projects, we provide regular updates on the progress of these initiatives. All individual contributions are recognised in our annual report, unless anonymity has been requested.
Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
HI welcomes collaboration with NGOs whose objectives align with our mission to advance the health and wellbeing of people living with haemochromatosis. We recognise that NGOs can bring valuable expertise, networks, and advocacy experience to shared initiatives, and we seek to build relationships that deliver meaningful benefits to our community.
Corporate sponsors
HI gratefully acknowledges the support of Novartis, DRG Germany, and DRG USA in establishing and sustaining Haemochromatosis International, and welcomes unrestricted financial sponsorship to help us continue our work.
As a charitable organisation, we accept unrestricted financial support for specific conferences, meetings, projects, publications, education and research, with a clear focus on advancing the health of people with haemochromatosis. Our Board of Trustees reviews all offers of sponsorship and financial support, and approvals are made by committee decision.
A record of all arrangements with financial sponsors is maintained, and acknowledgments of sponsors and their support are published on our website.
To safeguard our independence, HI does not align exclusively with any single commercial entity, endorse products, permit the use of our logo on products or product materials, or comment publicly on commercial releases of specific diagnostic or treatment products.
(The previous version of this policy is archived here)