NHS must support health and not wealth

THE correspondent who advocated we ‘Spend the aid money in UK’ on healthcare, well being and security (Viewpoints, January 4) clearly feels these are lacking.

This is understandable when national news is dominated by the government having to apologise for in effect switching off part of the NHS for a month.

But perhaps some of the problem could be alleviated if government prioritised serving health rather than wealth.

The NHS drugs bill supports international pharmaceutical companies that freeload on publicly-funded research and charge whatever they can get, tweaking drugs to renew legal monopolies.

This also provides a lucrative gravy train for corporate lawyers and financiers, ultimately paid for by taxpayers and patients, some of whom will probably suffer or die earlier because they are denied access to vital medicines.

It’s a widespread problem hitting sufferers from ‘diseases of the poor’ such as TB, diabetes and hepatitis worldwide.

The problem in the UK was highlighted a couple of months ago on the Radio 5 live programme ‘Patients Denied Drugs.’

The good news is that if you want, you can do something about it by visiting the Missing Medicines coalition online.

Oxfam and Stop Aids are members. Join them calling this abuse out. This picture of Harwood Road leading into Tottington village, near Bury, was taken by Bryson King. If you have a stunning picture, then we’d love to see it. Send your photos to us at viewpoints@ men-news. co.uk, marking them Picture of the Day

Judi Prome, Heywood