The NHS And Prices For US Drugs
On the BBC’s Wake Up To Money this morning, an NHS expert; Helen Buckingham, from the Nuffield Trust, talked about the NHS and the prices for drugs, developed and produced in the United States. These are points Helen made.
- Various people in the US, would like the UK to pay the US price.
- The UK price is determined because the NHS is a bit customer and tends to buy centrally.
- In the US, it is illegal for hospitals and health organisations to deal as a group.
- Countries like Australia get their drugs at a good price from the United States under the recent trade deal.
Obviously, this is how I read, what Helen said, so if you’re really interested listen to the podcast.
The US drug pricing system isn’t good at all; we don’t want to get drawn into their system. The NHS, via NICE and CCGs come out with some odd drug restrictions – I am not allowed the vegan version of one medication I need, because they don’t recognise veganism as a valid reason for particular drugs. I am not vegan, I have an anaphylactic response to fish oils. The only way I can be certain the medication doesn’t contain fish oils is to have vegan ones. I have had one blue light trip to A&E with a different medication. It would be cheaper to pay the £10.00 per month and let me have the vegan ones than the cost of an ambulance. But they don’t see it that way.
Comment by nosnikrapzil | November 25, 2019 |
I had to go to A & E on Friday, as was suffering from what looked like chronic constipation. But it could have been something worse.
I knew I wouldn’t a GP appointment by the weekend and didn’t I could last till Monday.
So I just walked in to a very quiet A & E at UCLH.
They did an X-ray and cleared me out with a nuclear suppository. The doctor reckoned that my problem was that I don’t drink enough fluids and especially beer and it turned out we both drunk the 0.5% Adnams beer. World-saving ideas like this tend to arise in Suffolk.
The doctor had a work experience student in tow, so whilst I was there he checked my aorta by ultrasound.
It was an example of a hospital department working at its best.
He also.put me on a daily drug, which should stop the constipation and is just a few pounds a pot.
Comment by AnonW | November 25, 2019 |