US drugs companies apparently want to force the NHS to pay more for medicines
After a Channel 4 investigation revealed secret meetings between UK government officials and representatives of US pharmaceutical firms, the SNP have called on all opposition parties to help lock the Tories out of Number 10.
The SNP’s Westminster Heath spokesperson made the call after it was discovered these secret meetings involved discussions on the future of the NHS and hiked drug prices.
The report showed how US drug companies want to force the NHS to pay more for medicines from US firms. After Brexit, Britain will be in a weaker negotiating negotiating position and therefore may be unable to resist the pressure to sell off the NHS.
Since Donald Trump said
earlier this year that the NHS should be “on the table” as part of a
post-Brexit trade deal, the SNP has been on constant alert to warn that
Scotland’s health service also faces an “unprecented threat”.
Dr Philippa Whitford MP, said: “Scotland’s vital National Health Service faces an
unprecedented threat from the Tory government who are intent on cosying up to
Donald Trump at any cost and securing a bargain basement trade deal that will
undermine our NHS.
“The Channel 4 Dispatches investigation reveals that the
threat to the nature of our NHS is growing with each day that passes.
“It’s becoming clearer that part of the cost of a Tory Brexit is potentially a huge increase in the amount our NHS has to fork out to pharmaceutical companies in the USA to boost their already substantial profits.”
Dr Whitford further commented that this could increase the price of drugs by two and a half times more than current prices and put huge strain on NHS budgets.
“The longer Boris Johnson remains in Number 10, the greater the danger to our economy, people’s jobs, and our valuable public services,” she added.
“Opposition parties must work with the SNP to remove the Toxic Tories from office.
“Scotland’s voice and interests have been ignored throughout the entire Brexit process, and it’s clear that the only way to protect our interests is by becoming an independent European country that strengthens its public services – not sells them off.”
Lucy Skoulding is a freelance reporter at Left Foot Forward. Follow her on Twitter.
One Response to “NHS under threat from Tory-Trump post-Brexit stitch up”
Patrick Newman
Just a taster of life outside the EU. The USA will bully the UK into agreeing trade deals that will give the balance of advantage to them. In international trade size matters and the UK will be downsizing its clout by about 70%. As soon as the transition period ends the UK will be barred from being part of the EU’s trade deals with Japan, Canada and big countries in South America.