Motion 10
Making the Pharmaceutical Industry Work for People, Not Profit
“That this Congress notes that the current pharmaceutical model prioritises profits over people. Multinational pharmaceutical companies neglect research into diseases that are prevalent in working class communities and lower-to-middle income countries because these diseases are less profitable, with the profit-driven system incentivising drugs that offer little therapeutic advance and primarily serve to prolong patent protection.
“The profitisation of medicines costs the NHS millions each year, with rising drug costs being used in pay negotiations by the Scottish Government to argue that there is limited funding for wage increases, as well as health boards arguing for 5% cuts across all services to keep up with rising costs. Global Justice Now states ‘our research reveals that pharmaceutical companies have charged the NHS an eye-watering £13billion for just ten medications over the previous decade, charging mark-ups of up to 23000%.’
“Congress believes that the founding socialist principles of the NHS, of universal and comprehensive healthcare at the point of use, can only be achieved with long-term investment in publicly-owned pharmaceutical manufacturing, distribution and a new generation of publicly-owned, democratically controlled industries funded by increased public borrowing and financed by taxes on the accumulated wealth currently being hoarded by the richest in our society.
“Congress welcomes the TUC’s call for a ‘high profile and constructive public campaign to strongly make the case for a more radical, progressive and credible economic strategy for national renewal.’ This new economic strategy must have at its heart the NHS and auxiliary industries that support it.
“Congress calls on the STUC to:
- convene a conference of unions and begin a research programme to develop proposals for publicly-funded, owned and planned pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution;
- support the Global Justice Now campaign against ‘Big Pharma’, and;
- lobby the Scottish Government for nationalisation of currently existing pharmaceutical manufacturing, testing and distribution sites throughout Scotland.”
Mover: North Lanarkshire Trades Union Council
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