Statins, Britain first for OTC medical sales

Ironically when these drugs came off patent their cost to the NHS would have dropped to a fraction of the £17 that is now being charged over the counter.  In an NHS where there simply isn;t enough money to pay for everything, drugs such as statins, like others are being restricted by guidelines aimed to control spending.

Medical sales companies for years have been frustrated by the limitations imposed by NICE the governments NHS spending watchdog, with many patients who would benefit the reduction in the risks of heart problems through taking statins couldn't get them on prescription.  Now, these patients can opt to buy these over the counter.  All of a sudden, Medical sales companies are able to recoup the premium they used to as a branded and patented drug, whilst the government saves.  This is almost an invisible privatisation of cholesterol treatment.