The HealthWatch Award:

The HealthWatch annual award is presented to someone who has made significant steps either in medical research or in improving the public's understanding of health issues by clarifying complicated and often misunderstood medical matters for the general public. The recipient addresses the Annual General Meeting of HealthWatch. Since the 1997 award, the text of the lecture is available in our archives - just click on the name of the recipient of the award to read.

1993 Geoff Watts: for his excellent understanding and accuracy when reporting issues of healthcare.

1994 Petr Skrabanek, awarded posthumously: for his critical analysis of both conventional and complementary therapies.

1995 David Sackett: for his pioneering work in support of evidence-based medicine.

1996 Sir Richard Doll: for his outstanding leadership over 50 years in clinical epidemiology.

1997 Annabel Ferrriman: for her excellent medical journalism despite the stresses of that profession.

1998 Polly Toynbee: for her critical and informative reporting on healthcare matters.

1999 Bernard Dixon: for his skill in presenting scientific arguments comprehensibly to the public.

2000 John Diamond: for his courageous and rational approach to therapies for his own illness.

2001 Clare Rayner: for her dedication to the public's right to quality healthcare.

2002 Professor Michael Baum: for criticising Department of Health information on benefits of breast screening.

2003 Dr Peter Wilmshurst: for his courage in challenging misconduct in academic medical research.

2004 Dr Richard Smith: for championing the independence of Medical Journalism.

2005 Prof Edzard Ernst: for his honest appraisal of CAM.

2006 Dr Ben Goldacre: for exposure of bad science