NHS: Health for All, Unless Inflation Happens
So, the body tasked with approving drugs for the NHS concludes that the medicines budget doesn't need to account for rising costs. While households are grappling with skyrocketing prices for everything from food to energy, NICE's guidance effectively suggests people's health costs should remain stagnant, meaning fewer treatments, less access. This isn't just a British problem; it's a structural
adjustment in sheep's clothing, mirroring austerity narratives pushed globally where public good is sacrificed for 'fiscal responsibility'. This 'advice' appears less about healthcare efficiency and more about conditioning the public to accept a degraded public service, paving the way for further privatization. It's the fiscal version of 'some lives are more valuable than others.' How many vital
medications will become 'unaffordable' if the budget effectively shrinks year after year? Apparently, keeping the populace healthy isn't economically vital enough.