There's a part of me that's warming to the new Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock. At least he has a passion - technology. So much so, that the health tech sector and techies must be drooling at the prospects. Last week Mr Hancock set out his 'vision for a more tech-driven NHS' at … Continue reading ‘White hot heat’ is not good for a tech-driven NHS but patients and health profs could be – comment #AI
Ben Goldacre
Even pharma must understand the perils of Schwanning about in a storm
On New Year's Eve I took my family up 'The Shard,' London's newest and tallest landmark. As we looked Eastwards a squall was readying itself over the North Downs; the latest in a succession of storms to batter our shores over the past few weeks. Low-flying clouds threatened to swallow us whole. The wind roared around … Continue reading Even pharma must understand the perils of Schwanning about in a storm
Blog: Why the NIHR Journals Library is important from a patient perspective
NIHR Journals Library Launch 20th June 2013 As promised here's my speaking notes from the launch of the NIHR Journals Library today. Good to see the Minister, Earl Howe, there (I tweeted his remarks earlier) plus the CMO, Professor Dame Sally Davies, Trish Edwards, Asst Editor from the BMJ etc., Public involvement in UK health research … Continue reading Blog: Why the NIHR Journals Library is important from a patient perspective
Patient View Report: Pharma industry’s lack of transparency harming reputation with patients
Earlier this week Patient View published the results of its annual tracker of the pharmaceutical industry's reputation among patient groups. The latest study surveyed 600 patient groups (72% of them from Europe). As well as asking patient groups to rank 29 pharmaceutical companies by various indices (such as whether their practices were patient-centred) - Lundbeck … Continue reading Patient View Report: Pharma industry’s lack of transparency harming reputation with patients
Getting back into the (regulatory) swing…..
After two weeks away, this feels like the proverbial two minutes from time substitution that players do when coming back from injury. Just to be sure we remember which goal we are attacking, mind. I have a feeling that 2013 will very much be a year about how we regulate health research in the future. More … Continue reading Getting back into the (regulatory) swing…..
Testing, testing: please put Testing Treatments interactive through its paces
With the sort of timing which makes me wonder whether I missed my vocation as a TV scheduler it only seems right that, on the day the House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee has announced its inquiry into access to clinical trial data, I should ask you to road-test 'TestingTreatments interactive.' 'Testing Treatments interactive' is the … Continue reading Testing, testing: please put Testing Treatments interactive through its paces
Patients need apply – European Medicines Agency (EMA) next steps on clinical trial data
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has published the note of the conference held in London a few weeks ago, about its plans for proactive publication of clinical trial data. It is now setting up five advisory groups and inviting self-nominations from people to join these. You will find the following listing of the advisory groups, plus … Continue reading Patients need apply – European Medicines Agency (EMA) next steps on clinical trial data
Current Controlled Trials (CCT) appoints new advisory board
Current Controlled Trials (CCT), which aims 'to increase the availability, and promote the exchange, of information about ongoing randomised controlled trials worldwide,' has appointed a new advisory board to help it in its work. Other than yours truly, the Board includes Ben Goldacre and Paul Wicks (PatientsLikeMe) among its members, and is drawing on international … Continue reading Current Controlled Trials (CCT) appoints new advisory board
From analogue to digital patients – or how to avoid being trapped in the ‘mash-up’
If I didn't know from all the media coverage that the digital switchover was taking place in London today, then I would only have to look over my back fence into Crystal Palace Park to see them preparing for the laser show tonight at the Crystal Palace Tower. It explains the weeks of helicopters hovering … Continue reading From analogue to digital patients – or how to avoid being trapped in the ‘mash-up’
N=1: Defining medicines development and use from a patient perspective
I am not sure what made me think about and look for this report: 'N=1: Why people matter in medicines.' Perhaps it was all the talk last week about the Department of Health's 11th report to parliament on the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) - in essence the way in which drug prices are set … Continue reading N=1: Defining medicines development and use from a patient perspective
Simon Denegri's Lay Review 