A landmark Australian inquiry put the spotlight on menopause. But was the process transparent?

Responses to a Senate inquiry on menopause have been broadly welcomed by the medical profession – but some have concerns about a lack of disclosures made during the hearing. Photograph: Cavan Images/Getty Images/Cavan Images RF

A landmark Senate inquiry which helped catapult menopause out of the shadows and into mainstream health conversations has been accused of inadequately disclosing ties with pharmaceutical companies and other commercial interests.

In a paper published in the journal Health Promotion International in November, Australian researchers found that despite the chair of the committee inviting disclosures of conflict of interest, only three conflict of interest statements were included in 284 written submissions. Just 10 of the individuals giving evidence in person made verbal disclosures about conflicts of interest.