Profits before Patients

The Independent on Sunday reports :-

"...it is criminal that market forces are coming ahead of people's health and lives."

11 per cent of UK pharmacies and a small proportion of dispensing doctors are exploiting the European market and effectively diverting £30m worth of medicines meant for British patients to patients overseas every month.Profiteering pharmacists, hospitals and wholesalers are putting British patients' lives at risk by selling prescription drugs, intended for the UK, to customers in Europe. Nearly 50 drugs needed by patients, with conditions ranging from breast cancer and Parkinson's disease to depression and epilepsy, are in short supply because traders are selling the drugs for higher prices overseas in a trade worth at least £360m a year. Wholesalers are also believed to be playing a "very significant role", says the pharmaceutical trade association, ABPI.
Recent guidance issued by the Department of Health, regulators and professional bodies "reminded" all potential traders of their legal obligations to prioritise UK patients before profit.Drug companies sell the same drug at different prices in every country.
In the past, Britain was one of Europe's biggest importers of "cheap drugs" from Spain and Greece. But since the pound fell against the euro and UK drug prices dropped, the tables have turned and there is now a massive demand for British medicines overseas.