Heart of matter

ALMOST 200,000 heart attack victims end up in hospital every year, so development of new drugs to avert potentially fatal cases is unquestionably good news.

The new anti-inflammatory, hailed as the biggest breakthrough since statins and judged to also reduce the risk of cancer, is full of welcome possibilities.

The downside is the £40,000 annual cost of treatment would add to the financial strain on the NHS, but what price do we put on a life?

The imperative is to drive down the bill. NHS bulk buying and public pressure on the manufacturer would be a powerful double force. Preventing heart attacks would leave more cash to care for those who do become victims.