In case anyone wishes to comment re the tribunal final decision, I'm posting this.
The case against Advanz Pharma and its previous owners by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is finally over.
Advanz Pharma appealed against the fines imposed by the CMA and the case was heard today.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal has upheld the CMA's findings against Advanz Pharma and its former owners but have reduced the fines given previously.
Thyroid UK is disappointed that the fines have been reduced as these companies have caused untold damage to all patients who need liothyronine because of the price hikes.
Thyroid UK and other thyroid organisations are still campaigning to gain access for thyroid patients who need this medication especially since the latest guidance by NHS England and the British Thyroid Association have been published.
Should have withheld it and all monies fined fed right back into nhs to fund liothyronine for the many people refused it due to them charging extortionate prices. The prices they were overcharging was the number 1 reason the people who needed to have this medication did not get it after suffering so long and feeling very ill and not able to function normally because of being under medicated, and prevented from being prescribed the medication they so needed All because of their greed and continued overcharging
if you have an unpaid 60.5 M fine , reduced to a 43.3 M fine that you don't want to pay either , and in the meantime you restructure some of your business assets , how much of it don't you have to pay then ?
i think i'm getting a handle on this 'big business' thing .. maybe i'll have go
Its called a criminal racket, and is legitimate according to the non legitimate law.
If you do this yourself you will go to prison because it is their law not yours. and they have right of force which they can and do en-force. so bad luck. you are not a member.🤓
I want to know the names of who,at NHS nodded through the overpayments for a decade which involved increase in payments from £4.50p per pack to about £250 per pack ...how many people in an average pub would accept an increase in a pint if beer from £4.50 per pint to £250 per pint . I want names .Or are they on the boards of the pharma Companies ....Its just impossible to comprehend ....again apply my metaphor to a litre of petrol ....I am lost for words ...I just can't see that there was not corruption at both ends ....or have I misunderstood the story and numbers .
Company in question deliberately bought up old, “out of patent”, single licence, niche drugs
Changed their category to “generic” whereby there was no price regulation of any kind
NHS wasn’t even able to ask the price
In theory, with generic medicines, there are several/numerous suppliers and competition between brands drives price down
After years of exploration and publicity this loophole was closed but price was not forced back down
Since then….
other companies were finally given licenses to supply liothyronine to NHS …..price has dropped (too slowly) from £268 for 20mcg per 28 tablets down to £42
10mcg tablets still only has single supplier ….price remains high at £152
5mcg tablets only 2 suppliers and price £120
Liothyronine capsules cheaper at £55, £65, and £55 for 5mcg, 10mcg and 20mcg …..but many members don’t get on with the capsules
In the early years of the price increase and even before the NHS was limiting it/taking patients off it, I wrote to my MP, querying the dramatic price increase. He sent my letter to the House of Lords and after some time I received a reply explaining that the increase was due to difficulties of manufacture and transport costs.
I then found a website that gave information on which MPs and other members of the Lords had shares in pharmaceutical companies. Most did . Why bite the hand that feeds them?
Try a Freedom of Information request. You may not get specific names but you may be able to unearth some internal meeting documentation/minutes revealing how those responsible for NHS procurement reacted to the outrageous price increases and, maybe, why they continued to source the T3 from the suppliers in question when it was and still is possible to buy T3 in other countries at the price levels prevailing before the con artists muscled in. Those running the procurement system in the NHS have a lot to answer for and its about time they were bought to book for their incompetence or other factors that allowed the rip off perpetrated on the NHS (and patients).
Also I'd like to know who in the medical profession had the bright idea of exploiting the situation to disadvantage patients by withdrawing T3 prescriptions instead of investigating why the NHS was seemingly colluding with the companies concerned by not challenging the ridiculous prices increases.
I wonder if there is any room for private or a ‘class action’ against the guilty parties? I must say I think similar should be (and will be) taken at some time by thyroid patients against the NHS for the negligence. Mostly endos, as their ‘guidance’ is stopping the GPs doing their jobs. Up until now there has been wriggle room for some knowledgable doctors to actually do their jobs but I think the recent ‘guidance’ may completely stop any GP risking their job. Some firm of lawyers just need to see the ££££ signs.
Yes but if something like this was to work, it would be to the benefit of all thyroid patients. ‘Class actions’ are often undertaken on a No win, no fee basis. If this was a real threat to the NHS itself, then they would have plenty of time to sort themselves out - if they were in any way efficient. Get rid of this ‘old generation’ of endos and bring in the new blood, like Peter Taylor who is enthusiastic. We are not aiming for money. We want proper treatment. However sooner or later someone will sue and this ‘House of Cards’ will crumble. Certain endos are the leaders in this debacle, maybe they should personally be sued.
What Id very much like to know is what happens to this "Fine" once its paid. we hear about them all the time but never where they go, who gets them, what it IS used for. It silently dissapears. It should go to those who have been wronged or are left out of pocket be it is 90%+ never heard of again.?
Well, at least one of the props holding up refusal to prescribe T3 has been kicked away and cost is no longer an obstacle. It's good news in that we hope our upcoming book will kick away another one, namely refusal to prescribe whatever.
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T3 article based on Dr Pete Taylor’s Lancet report 
Boots in Derbyshire no longer supplying Mercury Pharma Liothyronine
