Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://secure.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/939/24850
From The Socialist newspaper, 8 March 2017
Greater Manchester: patients are people not guinea pigs!
NHS users are patients, not guinea pihs, photo Andreas Rueda (Creative Commons) (Click to enlarge)
Manchester Keep Our NHS Public has responded to a report in the Financial Times that "local [NHS] leaders are offering leading drugmakers, including GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Novartis, access to Greater Manchester's sophisticated electronic patient record to test the real-world outcomes of their drugs".
Socialist Party member and Greater Manchester Keep Our NHS Public spokesperson Hugh Caffrey said:
"It seems that Greater Manchester is being turned into a med-lab for big pharma and our sick and injured into unpaid guinea pigs. It's not hard to see why: when our NHS is being handed over to the private companies then our patients will surely follow.
"And when we've not been asked whether we want our NHS privatised, it's no surprise that we haven't been consulted on our apparent new role as profit-feeding guinea pigs.
"The big question is where do Greater Manchester's political leaders stand on this, not least Labour's former health minister and mayoral front-runner Andy Burnham? We expect to see Mr Burnham and his colleagues joining us in condemnation of these plans and demanding their immediate withdrawal."
Donate to the Socialist Party
Coronavirus crisis - Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- Our 'fighting coronavirus workers' charter', outlines a programme to combat the virus and protect workers' living conditions.
- When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our special coronavirus appeal.
In The Socialist 8 March 2017:
Save our NHS!
Demo shows battle to save the NHS can be won
Socialist Party news and analysis
Fight the cuts: Demand no-cuts council budgets
One million workers on zero-hour contracts
Tories to dodge rulings against disability benefit cut
Aristocrats to hold byelection for one of their 92 reps
TUSC supports Irish MPs' call on Corbyn
Comments and reviews
Struggling to care against a backcloth of cuts
International socialist news and analysis
Historic demonstration in Barcelona in support of refugees
Support the Jobstown defendants: Defend the right to public protest
Build a movement to defeat Trump!
Socialist Party workplace news
Second front in battle over driver-only operation opens on Northern Rail
Leaked document threatens jobs and conditions at Ford Bridgend
Bus drivers' strike: Huge anger at bosses' attacks
Deliveroo cedes ground in Brighton dispute
Striking for jobs and union recognition at Fujitsu
Join the Socialist Party!
Millions protest - now join the Socialist Party to fight to change the world
Why I joined: "I am a Labour Party member and I recently decided to join the Socialist Party"
Why I joined: "I began to feel really exploited and to think about why"
Socialist Party reports and campaigns
'Anti-union law' charges against trees protesters dropped
Sheffielders call for a no-cuts 'people's budget'
Greater Manchester: patients are people not guinea pigs!
Bradford: Anti-cuts lobby against poor-bashing budget
Mary Creagh should resign not remain
Home | The Socialist 8 March 2017 | Join the Socialist Party
Subscribe | Donate | Audio | PDF | ebook
2019