Blogosaurus Vex

February 21st, 2009

BC has a provincially funded body called the Therapeutics Initiative whose job it is to review literature on pharmaceuticals and tell the province what medications should be funded.  It is made up of experts who have no conflicts of interest – in other words, they don’t work for/get kickbacks from drug companies or other groups with a vested interest.  They work to make sure British Columbians have access to good medicine which the province pays for – and their work is good enough to garner us an international reputation.  Which is no surprise – having impartial experts assess the science just makes sense!

And we might lost it.  Health Minister George Abbott formed a panel which advised the TI be disbanded.  News source Tyee describes the members of the panel this way: “The panel was stacked with people from the drug industry and one of the co-chairs was the head of a drug lobby group.”  (See article.)  So a bunch of drug shills don’t like impartial science informing public policy – what a surprise.  I’m sure they’d rather the province funded whatever it is they have to sell, at whatever price they choose to set – without any reference to the science, if that could be managed.  And it might, if we lose the TI.

In a typically Palin move, Abbott has taken a recent academic review of the TI (which says it’s good and should receive more stable funding to continue its work) and simply stated that the review agrees with what his panel said (which it does not) – “The academic review doesn’t undercut his task force’s report,” he said. “I think it’s consistent with what the task force report had recommended, so we’re looking very closely at the recommendations and moving forward with them.”

Translation?  We’re going to ignore the academic review, scrap the TI, and put the drug shills in charge.  Sure, there will be a veneer of respectability.  They will maintain a scientist or two.   But the panel pushing the change is headed by drug companies, and you know they aren’t making this move out of altruism.

Anyone in BC who values science, and their funded access to medications that the science says are good, should write to Minister Abbott and make their voice heard.  Salesmen have enough power.  They shouldn’t be in a position of influence that allows them to say what medicine we can and can’t have – and for anyone who isn’t rich, that’s what it comes down to.  For many people, especially in these hard times, if it’s not covered by the province, they can’t afford the medication.

You can email the Minister Abbott directly: hlth.health@gov.bc.ca

Here is what I wrote to him:

Dear Minister Abbott,

I am a British Columbian writing to let you know that I support maintaining the Therapeutics Initiative, and furthermore support creating a stable and ongoing source of funding for it.  It is in the public interest to have an impartial and science based body, with no ties to pharmaceutical companies or other vested interests, advise the government on the critical issue of which medications are funded.  Allowing drug industry interests to become part of that advising process is mercenary and demonstrates your lack of concern for the wellbeing of British Columbians.  Additionally, stating that the recent academic review of the TI agrees with the findings of your task force is clearly dissembling.

The first line in the Ministry of Health Services’ most recent Service Plan (February 2009) is: “The Ministry of Health Services supports Government’s vision of a world class public health care system with a mandate to guide and enhance the Province’s health services to ensure British Columbians are supported in their efforts to maintain and improve their health.”  Given the content of the academic review, there is no possible explanation for disbanding the TI that is consonant with this mandate.

Is everything for sale, including the health of the people you are supposed to represent?

Sincerely, (me)

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