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Rapid response to:

News

Drug companies are fined more than £260m for overcharging NHS for hydrocortisone pills

BMJ 2021; 374 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n1809 (Published 15 July 2021) Cite this as: BMJ 2021;374:n1809

Rapid Response:

Name and Shame

Dear Editor

"The impact on the NHS – and ultimately the UK taxpayer – was significant. Before April 2008, the NHS was spending approximately £500,000 a year on hydrocortisone tablets. This had risen to over £80 million by 2016." (1)

I think it would be appropriate if prison sentences follow.

(1) https://www.gov.uk/government/news/cma-finds-drug-companies-overcharged-nhs

Competing interests: No competing interests

17 July 2021
Peter Selley
Retired GP
Crediton, Devon