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From The Socialist newspaper, 25 November 2015
Antibiotic-resistant diseases warning: profit system holds back urgent medical research
Microscope image of killer E. coli bacteria, photo by NIAID (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)
Scientists have again warned of the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria - bringing closer a scenario the media calls "antibiotic apocalypse". Researchers believe doctors prescribing the drugs too often, and blanket use in intensive farming, have accelerated the evolution of resistant strains. But why hasn't medical science developed new treatments? Claire Job, nurse and Socialist Party member, responds.
Drug-resistant infections could kill an extra ten million people every year by 2050. A potential 'post-antibiotic era' is fundamentally due to the profit system.
The bosses knew it was coming. It has been nearly 30 years since the last new class of antibiotics was released.
But capitalists do not have the capacity to plan ahead. Shareholders demand profits today - not health benefits for humankind tomorrow!
Governments blame health professionals and toy with the idea of financial penalties for doctors. But at the heart of the problem is big pharma. It has largely ignored the work of developing new drugs - in favour of medicines that are less costly and more profitable.
We need to remove the profit motive from medical research and development. This means nation-alising the pharmaceutical industry under the democratic control of workers and the community.
It is only by eradicating the 'risk to profits' that innovation can truly flourish. Almost all major technological advancements have originated in the public sector.
A democratic plan of research and production could focus the industry on essential work. Public ownership would pool its huge material and intellectual resources, and eliminate the barriers of patents and trade secrets.
Socialist planning is the only way to protect the health of people today and into tomorrow.
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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.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 25 November 2015:
Socialist Party news and analysis
Autumn statement: bonanza for bosses, pain for us
Police finally own up to spies' relationships with target women
Transgender woman dies after spiteful courts pick men's prison
'Antibiotic apocalypse': profit system holds back research
Sun's racist lie about Muslim support for terror
Socialist Party feature
Socialist change not climate change
International socialist news and analysis
Dictatorship's methods still reign in 'democratic' Chile
Myanmar: electoral defeat for the military, renewed class struggle ahead
Workplace news and analysis
Trade Union Momentum launched to organise to defend Corbyn
Lambeth library workers' wildcat strike
"I'm voting for Roger because I believe we need change in our union"
Steelworkers demand government action to Save Our Steel
Firefighters rally to defend pay and conditions
Solidarity with sacked BT worker
Protest demands reinstatement of John Vasey
Socialist readers' comments and reviews
Tory MP made me sick with tax credit cut lies
Transgender access to healthcare is worsened by cuts
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
Waltham Forest march demands homes for all
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