modest 6.4 per cent of net output. The 'special case argument looks cven weaker as drug research only comes fifth in the table of the top ten industries investing in research Lumped into the research and development budget of the pharinto toiletries. A large portion of the 6.4 per cent probably goes into devcloping new shades for nail varnish or new odours for perfumes.
The rescarch into new drugs has hardly been devastating The Times Supplemenr on Pharaceuticals, 22 September 1972, reports chirteen "new discoveries" in 197; of which constituted a major a.vance, Drug discoveries in the USA have considerably stumped from tt.= peak Year of 1955 - in 1967 new discoveries were only one quarter of the 1955 total Most new drugs are concerned with symptom relief - insomnia. painkillers, etc. Little new has been discovered in the fields of prevention and cure.
The motivation behind research is profit, which leads to costly duplication and a concentration on tresting, though not curing, the "easier" and more 'common" discase. The National Economic Development Office, in a report published in maceutical companies is their research 1972, said chat areas like muscular dystrophy were being neglected and suggested Government financing of research into these Beds COMPETITION The Government and the charitable foundations already finance most of the research in cancer. The - pane pretentious claims made hy the drugs industry spokesmen about their concern for public welfare begin to look sick when you sec wbere and how research is directed.
panies" rescarch programmes is diverted into what is blandly called "substitute competition", This means scientists spending valuable time and money making small changes in their competitors products so difficulties are growing COST queuc.
NHS and the personal health services mainly from workers wage packers:
Under threats from the consulpany.
All enormous amount of the comcent of its siles.
Increase » unite on the picket of St. Bert's Hospital.
and the NHS.
- A complete ban on all private practice.
- Free creche facilities at all hospitals for both patients and health workers.
- A 35-hour week, with no hospital worker receiving less than E1 an hour.
- An immediate E15 a week increase for all health workers.
- A nil-norm threshold with an automatic 60p rise each month for every single point rise in the cost of living index.
- A freeze of all canteen and accommodation prices at 1 April levels.
- The abolition of all bonus schemes with no loss of pay.
The domination of the health service by capitalism rules out dealing with these problems in a satisfactory way. In the hospitals the emphasis is on treating a specific The British United Provident Association is the largest of the three major provident societies, insuring one and a half of the two million people in private patient schemes.
Thirty seven per cent of its members are from managerial and protessonal groups, representing three per cent of the population. Only two per cent of the members are manual workers.
In 1969 the private bealth schemes spent E15.1 million on benefits. The real beneficiaries were the 7,000 surgeons and physicians, who grabbed E7.7 million of LOOT The consultants got their loot and the payers jumped the queue as these examples of wasting times show:
Condition Private Patient hysterectomy 2 weeks By naccological 1 week cataract operaLion 2 weeks vasectomy 2 weeks tonsillectomy 2 weeks In evidence given to the House of Commons Sub-Committee on Expenditure, published by HMSO March 1972, the General Manager of Western Provident Association says: A sick person, whether rich or poor, has the right to the best available treatment - is the source of payment so very important?
A number of people in the medical profession gave evidence to the SubCommittee which answered the General Manager's question. They confirm that although the source of the money may not be too important, the amount of it is.
to deal with all the questions that affect the lives of the working class. This does not simply mean giving financial resources to meet the needs of the NHS but dealing with issues the medics section of ASTMS ical staff about NHS patients.
NHS patients 4 months 12 months ONCE A month 2 years 18 months mission." Her statistics told her jent should have to wait longer than six months." She asked the reason. The dedicated medica Jong enough they got fed upGP's * list existed in "X during the six months 1 worked there."
A memorandum from the Junior Hospital Doctors Section of MPU -cites the failure of certain consultants to do their ward rounds, and out-paticots clinics. Even operating sessions ate neglected and left to junior medAlthough these consultants are paid by the NHS to do this work they are too busy earning their share of that £7.7 million bonanza to worry A former medical secretary said to the Sub-Committee, that at her high salaries show "There was no reason wily any patreplied: If we keep them waiting and agree to become private patients.* X-RAY FIDDLE Another report, this time by an assistant physician, tells how local , referred patients privately for chest X-ray films with the explanation that the chest clinic had a long waiting list. In fact no waiting Dr Jeremy Holmes told the committee how GPs get in on the act. He said: 'Since I have been doing Here GPs will arrange for free NHS + forward tonsillectomy to a complica ted abdominal perineal two teams of doctors are needed for this operation which can be done to remove cancer of the rectum. A minimum of equipment, and a minimum of work, for private medicine, with the maximum of lool. The NHS must carry the burden of the dangerous and costly operations, Nuffield Homes is registered as a charity - this means it does not have to pay tax. Charity clearly begins at home, as the consultants BUPA also runs another bice IMG PAMPHLET: 'THE N.H.S, - A SUITABLE CASE FOR SOCIALIST TREATMENT OUT NOW !! Price 10p (+ 8p P‡p)
Order from RED BOOKS, 97 Caledonian Rd. N 1.
Saturday - 27 July - 11 am University of London Students* Union, Malet St., WC1. For details ring 01 278 9529 Bevan-gave in to Consultants the BMA, and outspoken defender of private health schemes, is also, coincidentally, a director of Private Patients Plan Private Patients is a very considerate organisation. In a special scheme, open to BMA members only, it provides generous additional amounts which can be utilised to purchase a gift, or a gift cheque, in recognition of a colleague's services when accounts are not rendered Well, it could be one way of paying less tax.
Despite all the glib chatter abour ethics and people's right to choose, what characterises private medicine is its seaminess and utter disregard and lack of interest in anything that does not nake a profit.
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one day conference CRISIS IN THE HEALTH SERVICE