The Ghost Lobby - New Labour and the Pharmaceutical Industry

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By Martin Walker.

"The involvement of pharmaceutical companies with government agencies has allowed the industry to develop a unique system of protection for its products, from suggested production, through licensing, and finally to its 'no fault' compensation scheme, which stops claimants from taking their cases to court. . .

The last decade has seen the emergence of an increasingly special relationship between the government and the drugs companies. One in which the drug companies are being drawn into funding the modernization of the NHS, in exchange for lucrative deals over 'mandatory' prescribed drugs, especially vaccines. . .

A number of issues were on the agenda for the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI) when Labour came to power. Members wanted assurances that, in a privatised National Health Service, there would be guaranteed markets for their drugs. They wanted the support of government in dealing with the animal liberation movement, and agreement that member companies could work with government in the multi-million-pound assured market of vaccines production. Finally, they wanted the government to strengthen their monopoly market position in Britain and Europe, and to help choke off competition from nutritional supplements and herbal medicines. . . When more formal structures of a centralised system break down, and distinctions between manufacturers, regulators and sellers become blurred, when conflict interests are obscured, so is responsibility for any damage caused by drugs. . .

While many patients, consumers and citizens will inevitably be adversely affected by 'Big Pharma's' partnership with government, it is perhaps democracy itself that will be the ultimate loser. Most people now understand that new Labour has slavishly followed North American politicians into Lobbyworld. However, many voters will be even most concerned that non -elected industry representatives, whose companies stand to earn billions in sales to the government, now seem to be setting the agenda on policies for health. The Commons Health Committee has been taking powerful submissions from, among others, the Royal College of General Practitioners, who have charged the industry with 'disease mongering'. But is the committee actually facing in the right direction and might it not be more appropriate to hold a major independent, judge led, enquiry into the comfortable financial relations between Big Pharma and the British Government."

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