From Ann Wills

 An ITV documentary ‘In Cold Blood’ will be broadcast tomorrow night on Sunday 27 September at 10.20pm - midnight.  It’s about the NHS Infected Blood Scandal in which NHS patients were given blood transfusions & blood products infected with hepatitis C & HIV.  Over 1,000 people died, including children.   For a description of the documentary click:  https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week40/cold-blood    & scroll down.

--

Daily Mail 26.9.20  “NHS CHIEF: DRUG FIRMS ARE TRYING TO RIP OFF TAXPAYERS” by Sophie Borland, Health Editor.

The head of NHS in England has hit out at drugs firms which try to “price-gouge” taxpayers.  Sir Simon Stevens claimed one co. was attempting to raise the cost of a drug for mental health disorders by 2,600%.    The firm. Essential Pharma, raised the costs of lithium carbonate tablets from £3 to £87 in 2016.  They’ve withdrawn one of their  cheaper products, which means the NHS may be forced to switch to this costly version.  He said up to 50,000 patients could be affected.  Sir Simon called for it to be made illegal for “bad apple” companies to hike their prices arbitrarily.    Essential Pharma owns the rights to 2 other brands of lithium carbonate & the costs to NHS (taxpayer) for the drug are now likely to rise from £2million to £17million.  It’s used to treat bipolar & depression.  Sir Simon was speaking at the Health Service Journal’s virtual Integrated Care Summit on 25.9.20.

Ann