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Andy A

Beach Fanatic
Feb 28, 2007
4,389
1,738
Blue Mountain Beach
LONDON (Dow Jones)--Four kidney cancer drugs cannot be recommended as a cost
effective treatment under the U.K.'s National Health Service, the agency that
decides which treatments are made available in the publicly funded healthcare
system said Thursday. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence, or
NICE, said in a preliminary recommendation that Roche Holding AG's (RHHBY)
Avastin, Bayer AG's (BAY.XE) Nexavar, Pfizer Inc.'s (PFE) Sutent and Wyeth's
(WYE) Torisel shouldn't be used for patients with advanced renal cell
carcinoma, the most common type of kidney cancer in adults. NICE said that
although these treatments are clinically effective, their cost to the NHS is
such that they are not a cost-effective use of resources. NICE publishes
appraisals of whether particular medicines should be considered worthwhile by
the National Health System in England and Wales. These appraisals - which
are reached after consultations with experts, drug companies, doctors and
patients - are based primarily on cost-effectiveness and are closely watched
by other governments and health insurers.

These products, Sutant and Nexavar, are two which my wife has been on since diagnosed with advanced renal cell carcinoma. The first one, Sutant shrunk her kidney tumor to a size that made surgery possible. The second one, Nexavar, she is on now, hoping to make the nodules in her lungs stabilzed or smaller. Her prognosis on her last check up was good and we will know more by the end of August after our next trip to M.D. Anderson. My point is this. Under a British type health care system, she might well be dead by now due to the fact treatment is based on whether treatment is "cost effective" or not. In our system, many patients are given these medications through grants from the American Cancer Society, pharmaceutical companies and other charitable sources. Is a British or Canadian system of health care what you really want? Not me, thank you. We can make needed improvements to our present system that would be much better.
 

traderx

Beach Fanatic
Mar 25, 2008
2,133
467
Andy,

I completely agree. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of folks who desire things to be "free" and plenty of pandering politicians who will provide it. We are destined for some sort of universal health care it would appear. If I lived in the UK or Canada, I would not be here right now. I would have died in the MRI waiting line. Thanks, but no thanks.
 

Miss Critter

Beach Fanatic
Mar 8, 2008
3,397
2,125
My perfect beach
I am curious. In countries with universal health care, can an individual pay out of his own pocket to "move to the front of the line?" Are there providers who take cash or some sort of supplemental plan that pays more that allows for enhanced services?
 

traderx

Beach Fanatic
Mar 25, 2008
2,133
467
I read an article on the Canadian universal health care system a few weeks ago. Conservatives are pushing for more private health care and liberals want the government to buy more private health providers. Some services can be upgraded and others cannot. If you go into the hospital under public health care, there are four patients per room. You can elect to upgrade out of your pocket to get a private room. Apparently, however, money does not put you at the front of the line to get an MRI, CT, etc.
 

Miss Kitty

Meow
Jun 10, 2005
47,011
1,131
70
I have had two MRIs in the last two weeks. I can't imagine having to wait for months to get these important tests. Count me out on this...I want people to have access to medical care, but there must be a better way.
 

Mermaid

picky
Aug 11, 2005
7,871
335
Andy,

I completely agree. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of folks who desire things to be "free" and plenty of pandering politicians who will provide it. We are destined for some sort of universal health care it would appear. If I lived in the UK or Canada, I would not be here right now. I would have died in the MRI waiting line. Thanks, but no thanks.

I must sadly agree with you. My husband was born in the UK, has family and friends in the UK, and works for a company based in the UK. So there's not a lot we don't hear about their health coverage. The mother of a friend of ours died of cancer and to this day my friend says if her mother would have emigrated to the US with her, she'd have been alive today. The waiting for medical care CAN indeed be killing. But I suppose that some could also say that in this country, the price of health care is what will do you in. Pick your poison. :bang:
 

BeachSiO2

Beach Fanatic
Jun 16, 2006
3,294
737
What is the difference between the UK and Canada system versus the Universal Health Care that is afforded to our Congressional representatives?
 

Bob

SoWal Insider
Nov 16, 2004
10,366
1,391
O'Wal
We are rationing health care right now, as millions of law abiding, tax paying citizens choose to live with their ailments than seek treatment which may bankrupt them. Making health care available to all will be the greater good. Arguing about universal health care is like debating the merits of better public education. It's another "I've got mine, screw you" attitude straight from lower shelf Repub playbook. The United States does not have the best healthcare system in the world.
 

traderx

Beach Fanatic
Mar 25, 2008
2,133
467
I must sadly agree with you. My husband was born in the UK, has family and friends in the UK, and works for a company based in the UK. So there's not a lot we don't hear about their health coverage. The mother of a friend of ours died of cancer and to this day my friend says if her mother would have emigrated to the US with her, she'd have been alive today. The waiting for medical care CAN indeed be killing. But I suppose that some could also say that in this country, the price of health care is what will do you in. Pick your poison. :bang:


Prices are high in the US. In fact, I believe our health care per capita is the most expensive in the world. Such statistics are fodder for those who advocate universal care. However, we also have the best healthcare in the world. How many folks send their sons or daughters to Canada to have brain surgery?

Here is the irony: prices are high in the US precisely because the government is already involved so much in healthcare thru Medicare and Medicaid plus all the regulatory stuff. We have arrived at a point where business is villified and government is championed as the solution. All one need do is look at the industries run by government to see what the solution set may look like.
 

Landlocked

Beach Fanatic
May 16, 2005
3,216
24
48
Alabama
What I pay monthly to insure my family is greater than what I pay to keep a roof over their heads.
 
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