T3 Scandal - Watchdog Revealed Drug Firm overcharged NHS by 6,000% rise for T3 - Guardian Article

[lindygiles]

Hi everyone. Apologies if you have all seen this before, but I just found this Guardian article from November 2017, which is very shocking and informative on the scandalous overcharging by a drug firm to the NHS for T3; cost of 1 tablet of T3 rising from 16p to £9.22 from 2007 to 2017

theguardian.com/business/20...

[Clutter]

Lindygiles,

A lot of people are aware but there will be others who aren't so it's fine to post the article.

In November the CMA provisionally found that Concordia abused it's market position. gov.uk/government/news/drug...

[Kacee in reply to Clutter]

Even though Concordia's outrageous price increase appears to be behind doctors refusing T3, it does not explain why doctors are adamant that T3 is not effective and T4 the 'one and only' suitable and available medication for hypothyroidism. It does not explain why so many hypothyroid patients are refused endocrinology appointments. The whole situation raises more questions than answers, and, even so several newspapers and the BBC have reported this disgraceful situation,it makes no never mind to the powers that be. It looks as if nobody can be held accountable anymore and that is really frightening.

The Parliament Notes Petition PE01463 has been under consideration by the Public Petitions Committee since 2012 and highlights the problems with inadequate diagnosis and treatment of thyroid conditions etc; it is also recognised that the refusal to prescribe T3 is potentially a breach of ARTICLE 2 and ARTICLE 14 PROTOCOL 12 of the European Convention on Human Rights. We are now in 2018 and absolutely nothing has changed.Does anyone else get the impression that vulnerable people are considered to be disposable? It certainly feels like it- become ill with a chronic condition, remove essential life saving medication and sit back and wait........my MSP can't be bothered, the Health Secretary for Scotland hides behind nonsensical wording and Elaine Smith, the Labour MP,who is very lucky to be able to afford T3 for her hypothyroid condition,has not deigned to reply either.All we get is 'word, word,word's and no action.

If it were not for Thyroid UK and HealthUnlocked we would be in even a worse state. I am frustrated, tired and scared.

[Clutter in reply to Kacee]

Kacee,

Strangley, Liothyronine was seen as clinically effective prior to AmCo and Concordia's price hikes and before it dramatially affected doctor's drug budgets GPs were prescribing it even though the BTA thought it should first be recommended by an endocrinologist.

Lorraine Cleaver and those supporting her with the petition (including TUK) have worked very hard. Getting these things through parliament is very slow. I doubt Lorraine thought it would take nearly so long. Elaine Smith has certainly been supporting the petition through committee. I don't know why she wouldn't respond to you if you are her constituent. There is a woman on the committe considering the petition who has been very obstructive. I can't remember her name. I think Health Secretaries are pillocks by nature. Chin up! At least you don't have that weasel Jeremy Hunt as your Health Secretary.

[Kacee in reply to Clutter]

That is true, we don't have Jeremy Hunt but,sadly, we have our own Numpty. I read Aileen Campbell's comments and the less said the better. It just goes to show that even with well founded verification there are people who are determined to express their doubts as to the validity of, what seems to me, overwhelming evidence that the current testing and treatment of hypothyroid and Hashimoto's is way below acceptable standard and that there are compelling reasons to change this sorry state of affairs. The fact that T3 deemed to be effective until it was priced out of availability and that hypothyroid patients are suffering and dying needlessly makes no never mind to Ms Campbell and her ilk.

I am no longer surprised that the Endocrinologist at the Hospital did not make eye contact when she said "There is no medical evidence that T3 is effective and I do not agree with patient pressure groups because it places an unacceptable burden on doctors to prescribe drugs they did not believe in."

We are not talking about antibiotics for a cold - we are talking about a life threatening condition that can be managed successfully with essential testing and treatment in line with individual patient care.

Maybe the Endo should have added: T3 is a magically selective drug and is only effective for patients who can afford to pay the outrageous cost'

I think the best option would be to return to NDT. It is not synthetic and provides all the essential hormones a healthy thyroid produces and it is affordable.

One can only hope and pray for such a miracle of common sense to take place sooner rather than later.

Sorry, I am turning into a cynical 'moaning Minnie'.

[lindygiles in reply to Kacee]

I entirely agree. Only today my GP spun the usual line to me, that there is no evidence that t3 works, that it is not stable, and that it causes other problems like heart palpitations, osteoporosis, etc. , after first saying, "I'll be honest with you, it is the cost, but there are other reasons too."

He has also written to my endo that he cannot prescribe t3 to me. As my endo has already told me to continue buying t3 from abroad, I really don't see what the point is in offering me yet another appointment, this time with a more junior member of the endo team.

I will probably not go, as I am fed up of being spun the same lie over and over again.

I plan to see my MP too, when I feel a bit better after getting some more t3 from abroad.

[Clutter in reply to lindygiles]

Lindygiles,

My response to the 'no evidence it works' line is to ask why I was prescribed T3 only for 3 months after thyroidectomy while I was waiting for RAI. Why would NHS go to the expense of surgery followed by RAI which involved 4 days quarantine in hospital and prescribe a drug where there was no evidence it worked and would cause heart problems and osteoporosis? Why did I feel well on this supposedly useless drug?

[DippyDame in reply to Kacee]

Saw a GP this week and was subject to the same waffle about T3. I asked her how she would respond if I started to self medicate...a fluffed response about possible heart problems and the "rip off" cost. I suggested that there would be no danger if levels were monitored and kept within ref range. Splutter, splutter!

I came home and ordered T3 on line...and hope that if will reach me!

Thanks to the advice here I had that option...many patients are unaware of either this forum or the fact that T3 can be legally sourced on-line...albeit at a rising cost which may become inhibitive. It is unfair, unjust and downright immoral!

Like you Kacee I wonder which black hole swallowed up the efforts of Lorraine Cleaver et al. I watched the debate..it fell apart when that scathing woman (foggy brain can't recall her name) opened her mouth!

We have to remember that we are all neurotic, depressed and so on and all we really need is an Rx for anti-depressants...NOT!

Frustrated, tired -nay exhausted - and scared, pretty much sums it up.

What the h**l is going on?

[DippyDame in reply to DippyDame]

I think Aileen Campbell is the name!