Paul Flynn MP (KC) 17-Aug-08
From Kidney Cancer Resource
Go Back To Paul Flynn MP (KC)
NICE one, Michael Rawlings - Dying for cash
Traduced, abused and misrepresented, Sir Michael Rawlings strikes back today. The accepted canard is that NICE are cruelly depriving the dying of weeks of life because of penny-pinching meanness.
Sir Michael is chairman of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), which was recently hammered for failing to approve kidney cancer drugs.Michael_rawlins
He said, “Drugs are expensive because of "perverse incentives" in the pharmaceutical industry. Pharmaceutical companies have enjoyed double-digit growth year on year and they are out to sustain that, not least because their senior management's earnings are related to the share price.”
I had a meeting with Sir Michael at his invitation about five years ago on this issue. We agreed on everything. All I can fault him on in his claim today that ‘nobody’ has drawn attention to Big Pharma greed.
This blog on August the 7th said:-
“NICE cannot adopt a money no-object policy. That’s make-believe land not reality. But why are the drugs that cost pennies to manufacture priced at £30,000? The Big Pharmas blame the cost of research. At best that’s a half-truth. Even though the miraculous quality of the research is acknowledged.
All Big-Pharmas spend twice as much on marketing as they invest in research. Not marketing life saving drugs, but mass consumed medicines for trivial complaints. Their main investment is made to keep their profits buoyant. “
Sir Michael confirmed what I think is a deadly accusation, "Marketing costs generally are about twice the spend on research and development." Those are avoidable marketing costs. If the drugs work, they will sell themselves. Marketing is about multiplying profits.
Will this break through the permafrost of tabloid prejudice and ignorance that treats all new drugs as ‘miracle’ cures to be bought at any price? Big Pharma cynically exploit the suffering of the dying and their families to screw more money out the NHS budget.
Sir Michael said,” Kidney cancer drugs could be produced for about a tenth of their current cost, Rawlins said. While developing such medicines from scratch added to these costs, as did some 'unnecessary' bureaucracy around clinical trials, which should be scrapped, he said that was not the whole story. 'Part of the problem is that the pharmaceutical industry is looking at a very bad period in the
Share prices were driven by profits, he said. 'Pharmaceutical companies have enjoyed double-digit growth year on year and they are out to sustain that, not least because their senior management's earnings are related to the share price. It's not in their interests to take less profit, personally as well as from the point of view of the business. All these perverse incentives drive the price up.
The Big Guns of Big Pharma will now blast away at Sir Michael and NICE. It’s what they called ‘marketing’. Their PR riposte will be paid for eventually in the ballooning drugs budget of the NHS.
To View The Original Article Click Here
Disclaimer
Kidney Cancer Resource (KCR) is not influenced by sponsors. The information contained herein is not intended as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified and licensed physician or other licensed health care provider. The information provided here is for educational and information purposes only. Early accurate Diagnosis (Dx.) saves lives. Please check with a physician if you suspect you are ill, never ignore Symptoms. To help your health care specialist make an accurate Diagnosis please keep notes of dates, times and details of your Symptoms. We are not offering medical advice nor do we consider links, individuals or articles accessed through this site to be offering medical advice.
E&OE - Errors & Omissions Excepted
As much of the information posted on this Web Site for peoples convenience is of a medical or technical nature, and may be a matter of life or death the E&OE is a Disclaimer showing that to the best of our ability information is accurate and correctly written or transcribed. Before acting on information on this site you are responsible for checking it with your relevant medical team. We can not be held responsible for any Errors & Omissions made; nor for information on links and articles provided in good faith.
