buko pharma-kampagne buko pharma-kampagne buko pharma-kampagne is an independent organization based in bielefeld, germany, which watches over the marketing practices of german pharmaceutical companies. it has gained wider recognition after being described in a bestselling novel, the constant gardener by john le carré. buko was mentioned explicitly in the author's afterword as a real counterpart to the novel's fictitious hippo organisation (also based in bielefeld, germany). buko is partially financed by the european union and mostly by private supporters. in early 1981 following a conference in geneva, co-sponsored by the international organization of consumers unions and by buko, it set up health action international.