The situation
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN), which reps over 500,000 nurses in the UK, has officially cut ties with Teva UK. This means the drug company is no longer a commercial partner and has been axed as a sponsor for an upcoming October 30 event on migraine and headache services at the union's London HQ.
Why it went down
The move follows intense pressure from activist groups Nurses for Palestine and UK Healthcare Petitions to Royal Colleges. They’ve been lowkey campaigning to get the RCN to drop Teva, citing the pharmaceutical giant's connections to Israel’s military and a long list of corporate misconduct.
Carmel O’Boyle, chair of the RCN’s council, explained in a letter that after some extra digging, they found Teva’s operations weren't exactly vibing with the nursing profession’s values. O’Boyle noted that the company has faced significant legal scrutiny and public backlash over the years.
The fallout
Teva is definitely not happy about it. A spokesperson said they are "disappointed" and argued that healthcare shouldn't be "politicised." The firm maintains that it’s one of the NHS’s biggest medicine suppliers and claims it has always valued its partnership with the RCN.
Meanwhile, activists aren't stopping here. They are already pushing the Royal College of Pharmacy to follow suit and dump Teva as a sponsor for their conference next month.
Corporate baggage
It’s not just the political links; Teva has a history of major legal drama. They’ve been ordered to pay roughly £1bn in fines over the last decade due to bribery, price-fixing, and market manipulation. Notable hits include a €462.6m European Commission fine in 2024 for blocking competition, and a $225m settlement with the US Department of Justice in 2023 for price-fixing. Back in 2016, they also paid $519m to settle charges involving the bribery of government officials in Russia, Mexico, and Ukraine.
Why it matters
Professional bodies are being forced to reckon with their corporate sponsors. As activism in healthcare grows, unions are finding it harder to separate their industry ties from the geopolitical stances of their partners, marking a major W for grassroots organizing.
