“Alarm and Disbelief” as New EU President Moves Regulation of Medicines to Industry Ministry

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The new President-elect of the European Union Jean-Claude Juncker has removed key responsibilities relating to health and medicines from the government Commissioner in charge of health and food safety and given them to the Commissioner responsible for enterprise and industry. In a press release and open letter, the European Public Health Alliance and a wide array of other organizations are expressing “astonishment and concern” and “alarm and disbelief.”

“The public health community has reacted with alarm and disbelief at the ill-thought distribution of responsibilities amongst the in-coming European Commissioners,” says the European Public Health Alliance in a press release. The EPHA says the decision “threatens Europe’s ability to prepare for major health crises such as outbreaks of infectious diseases and health threats arising from climate change, whilst putting the public interest behind the drive for profits in drug authorisation procedures.”

“We are writing to express our astonishment and concern regarding your decision to move the competence for medicinal products and health technologies from the Commissioner in charge of Health to the Commissioner in charge of internal market and industry,” says an open letter to Juncker signed by over 30 organizations. “The shift you are proposing sends the wrong signal to European citizens and patients – namely that economic interests come before their health.”

An article in the British Medical Journal similarly suggests the decision represents “a victory of profits over public health.” The editors of the British Medical Journal and the non-profit Prescrire also sent a joint letter to Juncker, calling his decision “a great disappointment.”

Juncker puts Europe’s security at risk by promoting profit over public health (Press Release from European Public Health Alliance, September 12, 2014)

Open Letter to President-elect Jean-Claude Juncker on move of medicinal products and health technologies to the portfolio of the Commissioner for internal market and industry (European Public Health Alliance & Other Signatories, September 16, 2014)

The European Commission and pharmaceutical policy: A victory of profits over public health? (McKee, Martin. British Medical Journal. September 15, 2014. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g5671)

Mr Juncker, medicines are not just a commodity… (Letter from Fiona Godlee, editor in chief of the British Medical Journal and Bruno Toussaint director of la revue Prescrire, September 14, 2014)

Also see:

abuzz over there… (1 boring old man, September 17, 2014)

a coup d’état… (1 boring old man, September 17, 2014)

New EU president moves regulation of medicines to industry department (AllTrials, September 11, 2014)

15 COMMENTS

  2. One the other hand – maybe they’re acknowledging the reality that pharmaceutical industry is not really about anyone’s health…
    “The shift you are proposing sends the wrong signal to European citizens and patients – namely that economic interests come before their health.”
    It may be a wrong signal but it’s a correct one. And we should all be worried (or rather panicked).

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  4. I agree, healthcare is no longer about health, it’s just about profits. So at least they’re calling a spade a spade. And this is going on worldwide in all industries. An Econ professor of mine predicted the corporate takeover of the governments way back in the 1980’s. The only problem is, if you psychoanalyze the “person” that a corporation is, all corporations are psychopaths. See the movie on you tube, The Corporation.

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  5. If the people in mass decided to grow their own food and herbs organically on their own or rented land and to trade with each other as things sit now can they legally do it ? Are there legal maneuvers that can stop them? If so is this cause enough to revolt ?

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      • If not, research it. Here’s a place to start:

        http://www.healthfreedom.info/Federal_Reserve_Fraud.htm

        There’s lots of good youtube videos describing the Federal Reserve’s fraud, too.

        As I think you know, Fred, this isn’t just injustice against us few, we’re dealing with the eventual (or possibly soon to be) destruction of our entire country. Or, at least, so I (as a former economics major and ethical bank president’s daughter) have concern. And there are other “conspiracy theorists,” like Alex Jones, who discuss it in length. Look up his concerns.

        Do you think it’s possible the sicko bankers our founding fathers wanted to protect this country from, might have ordered attacks on the intelligent and ethical “2%” American bank presidents families, prior to trying to take over this country? Oh, a whole new theory as to why I may have dealt with such betrayal by a former Russian ELCA pastor, former German religion, and what seems to be a eugenics trained medical community.

        How bizarre. I was drugged up for thinking 9.11 was disgusting, but I did not consciously realize the magnitude of the enemy at the time.

        But, I do believe there’s hope, if the people wake up, become aware, and understand we need to collectively stand behind our country and constitution.

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