Another drugs company scam

Up to £100 million has been stolen from the public purse by profit-hungry pharmaceutical companies according to the British Medical Association (BMA).

A 'legal loophole' that allows drugs to be "flipped" between one company and another can push up the price of drugs by up to 2,000%.

Companies can sell on medicines used by the NHS to companies that are not included in the government's price-regulation scheme, who can then simply change the name of the drug and massively increase the price.

The NHS is scammed out of more and more money for the same products - potentially leading to the NHS being priced-out of using particular treatments.

The worst example is a drug previously called Epanutin and costing 67p per 50mg, now called Phenytoin and costing £16 per 50mg.

The drug is prescribed to about 100,000 sufferers of epilepsy and the price increase will mean an extra £50 million cost to the NHS.

The BMA is calling for the legal loophole to be closed - this must be done immediately. But this isn't the first or only scandalous practice by multinational pharmaceutical companies that's bleeding the NHS dry.

It was recently revealed that 14 hospital trusts are said to be failing. The government is demanding £20 billion of 'efficiency savings' from the NHS.

Surely the biggest efficiency saving would be to cut off the billions of pounds given to corrupt drug companies who only have an interest in profit, not healthcare.

The pharmaceutical companies should be nationalised under democratic working class control and management so that NHS workers and patients can decide what medicines are needed and scrutinise practices and pricing.

We demand a fully funded healthcare system freed from the iron grip of private vultures.

Join the national demonstration outside the Tory Party conference, called by the North West TUC and backed by the national TUC, Unite and Unison in Manchester on Sunday 29 September. Join the NSSN contingent on the demo to demand a 24-hour general strike.

Donate to the Socialist Party

Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.