The charity teamed up with drug multinational Pfizer for the study, which touched a nerve with its finding that 40 per cent of respondents believed people should have to pay for ‘lifestyle-related' treatments.
The British Medical Association's response, decrying such a stance as ‘unethical', further boosted coverage.
The Royal British Legion catapulted itself into the top ten with the launch of its annual Poppy appeal, fronted this year by Welsh opera pin-up Katherine Jenkins (PRWeek, 3 Nov).
RSPCA dropped to sixth despite its controversial support of Ipswich Hospital, which suggested that using its radiotherapy department to treat animals would create extra revenue.
Oxfam came eighth. The Daily Telegraph picked up on the development charity's criticism of Starbucks' alleged efforts to stop Ethiopian coffee farmers from registering a trademark for their produce.
NGO WATCH October 2006 ranking
01. Age Concern (NGO) - 410 (No. of mentions)
02. Friends of the Earth International - 326
02. Cancer Research UK - 322
04. Royal British Legion - 262
05. Red Cross - 259
06. RSPCA - 249
07. Macmillan Cancer Relief - 246
08. Amnesty International - 245
09. Oxfam - 239
10. RSPB - 233
Source: Infonic
