I was joking Goldie (you know, like Liam Byrne). It was odd though, the video on CH4 seemed to clearly show him saying 'people', when, the first time I saw it, I thought he definitely said 'woman'. It's a bit like the gold or blue dress. The whole thing was a pathetic farce though, and the Tories waving their 'phones at Bercow should be ashamed of themselves (one of them the Health Secretary, I believe). Still, there's nothing more pressing to be getting on with.
Off Topic The Politics Thread
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I was joking Goldie (you know, like Liam Byrne). It was odd though, the video on CH4 seemed to clearly show him saying 'people', when, the first time I saw it, I thought he definitely said 'woman'. It's a bit like the gold or blue dress. The whole thing was a pathetic farce though, and the Tories waving their 'phones at Bercow should be ashamed of themselves (one of them the Health Secretary, I believe). Still, there's nothing more pressing to be getting on with.
Totally agree. It's called a clean Brexit where we leave the EU without all those problems they seem to cause. Or if you look at it another way, all the problems we cause won't be about them.
Either way we need to get out.
I think he said woman, but as you say, Strolls, there are bigger fish to fry. He's risking it with Me Too brigade though.
Forgive me if you've had a chance to look up the Act and accompanying regulations (Branded Health Service Medicines (Costs) Regulations 2018) by now, but in brief, they give the DHSC three broad and wide ranging new powers:
1. The ability to take action in the in relation to excessive price increases on unbranded generics [Govt stated in the debates through both Houses that the power would only be used for excessive prices where there is no competition]
2. Mandates all parts of the supply chain to keep information on COGs, prices charged, and supply to SoS when requested [and interestingly, information shared between all four devolved nations, despite health being a devolved power]
3. Modify the statutory PPRS to introduce a rebate model akin to the voluntary PPRS
Technically, with these regulations now in place, there is no reason a company should be able to achieve an excessive price. Generics are controlled via the Drug Tariff, NICE force a low price for most branded medicines [compared to international norms], and the new powers can control generic prices where there is no competition. The loophole for companies in the PPRS debranding a medicine and increasing the price has also closed in these regulations.
However, in practice, there are still some questionable practices. See this in the Times today on liothyronine:
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/...onine-after-cost-increases-by-5-600-k3mn07trz
Why? The NHS and DHSC teams don't have the resource and expertise to spot every single questionable case, and if prices are being pushed up a moderate amount each year, can the Govt class this as "excessive"? Regulations have not been in place even a year yet, so perhaps too early to judge, but I think until they have more rigorous IT systems in place that allow Govt to easily track prices across the whole market and easily spot questionable trends, not much will change.
Thoughts? Addresses any of your concerns? Credit to them for at least recognising the issue (thanks to The Times) and trying to do something.
Edit: Worth noting this was all done off the top of my head, and I have a bad memory at the best of times. Some of the particulars may therefore be wrong!
Cheers Raving. I had a quick look last night and thought that they had all the powers, on paper at least, to stop price gouging. Then I read the story in the Times today and recalled the supply issues allegedly related to Brexit. I’m sure you are right, the law is ok now but the ability to implement it, which is undoubtedly complicated, lags behind. And sadly this sector is highly adept at gaming health systems.
But overall it’s useful to be reminded that the UK has amongst the lowest prices for drugs in the world, albeit at the cost of not having some medicines available elsewhere until
much later, if ever. It’s a hard market, I’m
glad I do barely any work here nowadays.
It's certainly hard, but keeps me busy and in gainful employment, so not too many complaints!
Know what life was like behind the Iron Curtain well do you?
You really do need to get a life. It's getting beyond embarrassing reading your bile towards DT.
had he apologized that would be the end of it, now he has dug himself a crater
"Jezzagate" has made himself look a right 2222. He was getting slaughtered on the radio. Even Labour supporters are calling him a liar. The bloke has absolutely no credibility…(to be honest he had none).
Even with the Tories looking a right mess he still wouldn’t beat them.
He is unelectable.
No need to apologise. If he believes in what he says he should stand by his words, whatever they were, and face the music. It's not like he stood up and shouted that she's a ****. Of course he'll capitulate, because they are ****s.
Whether he did or didn't me smells to me like the start of an Operation Fear and fake news campaign beginning in the Tory ranks. She's been called a lot worse recently by Tory die hards and Brexiteers on here recently. Move on. Nothing to see here. If you want to attack a Labour politician the lying Whip, (Onwuasoanya?) who has been found out trying to dodge her way out of a speeding fine and penalty points (only I believe) by blaming it on her brother should rightly have more of a target and, dare I say it, be called a stupid woman because both facts are undeniably correct. What the Labour Party does in her case to put things right is far more important. It would be nice to see in particular to see if Dianne Abbott can bring herself to act correctly or be forced to.
Thoughts to the 10,000 people trapped at Gatwick and elsewhere because of the actions of the twat(s) obviously flying drones in the area specifically to cause chaos.
I’m not sure why the drones simply haven’t been shot out of the sky. Surely this is one of the most predictable events around, no preparation seems to have been made. And with copycat idiots around it’s bound to happen again. As we know drones are a key part of advanced warfare now we must have the technology to take them out. If not, there’s a business start up for you.
Apparently the maximum punishment (regardless of motivation, and this could conceivably be an act of terrorism) is 5 years in prison. Insufficient for me, given the disruption, emotional upset, and enormous cost resulting from this spectacularly stupid and selfish act.
Meanwhile Corbyn and Bercow between them achieve the seemingly impossible feat of uniting the Conservative Party albeit in faux, stage managed, outrage. Bravo.
I’m not sure why the drones simply haven’t been shot out of the sky. Surely this is one of the most predictable events around, no preparation seems to have been made. And with copycat idiots around it’s bound to happen again. As we know drones are a key part of advanced warfare now we must have the technology to take them out. If not, there’s a business start up for you.
Apparently the maximum punishment (regardless of motivation, and this could conceivably be an act of terrorism) is 5 years in prison. Insufficient for me, given the disruption, emotional upset, and enormous cost resulting from this spectacularly stupid and selfish act.
Meanwhile Corbyn and Bercow between them achieve the seemingly impossible feat of uniting the Conservative Party albeit in faux, stage managed, outrage. Bravo.
Exactly this .they should just shoot the ****ers out of the sky . Ridiculous that they are just waiting for it flying about
I worked with 6 Russian teachers about 15 years ago and also have several Russian friends at my chess club, not one of them has anything good to say about the 'Soviet era' of which the 'Useful Idiot' is such an admirer. Not a pleasent era by any means. Hard to imagine any sane person finding that worth defending...
The Soviet era/Iron curtain/Communism was so popular it failed and everyone couldn’t wait to get away from it.
I worked with a chap many years ago who knew an artist back in the soviet days. He was arrested and thrown in jail where he died. All over some poetry and writings that the state deemed different to their views.
That is the sort of society that Comrade Corbyn wants. We have seen what he thinks of Jews and women, what next?