the incredible mess that has been made of solving Chronic Fatigue =
Syndrome (CFS).
Having the National Health Service (NHS) means that the importance and =
influence of medical/disability insurance is not always so readily =
appreciated.
Though it may seem contradictory, I believe this may make the UK an =
attractive target for insurance companies should they wish to exert =
influence over CFS policies. This is because in countries like the USA, =
although insurance companies may already have established links to =
healthcare providers, those providers in turn, probably have knowledge =
and experience of the kind of pressures that vested interests could =
exert. Forewarned is forearmed, as they say.
In the UK, however, doctors may see patients with insurance claims as a =
small minority of their medical practice. They may encounter =
pharmaceutical company reps on a daily basis, and be familiar with the =
strategies they employ. But they may be less prepared to notice, let =
alone look for, opinions that could be influenced by the vested =
interests of health insurance companies. This may be especially so when =
such influences reach them indirectly; i.e. via medical journals or the =
media.
Similarly, patients who do not have private health insurance might find =
it difficult to see how companies that have nothing to do with them, =
might want to exert influence over their diagnosis and treatment.
Very often the opinions about CFS that describe it as 'psychosocial' or =
'biopsychosocial' (e.g. the 'wessely school'); originate from or are =
repeated by people that have connections to the health insurance =
industry. Knowing and understanding the implications of these =
connections might give some people pause for thought.
As Margaret Williams quoted from the Gibson Parliamentary Group Report =
of 2006: '"There have been numerous cases where advisors (on ME/CFS) =
have also had consultancy roles in medical insurance companies. Given =
the vested interest private medical insurance companies have in ensuring =
CFS/ME remains classified as a psychological illness, there is blatant =
conflict of interest here. The Group finds this to be an area for =
serious concern and recommends a full investigation by the appropriate =
standards body".
http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/FACTS_re_GET.pdf
It might be interesting if it were possible to answer the questions:=20
If the insurance industry had no connection or influence with anyone =
connected to the DWP, the MRC, the Dept of Health, NICE, the CMO; in =
fact if there was no health insurance industry at all - would things be =
better for people with CFS?
If there were no health insurance industry, would CFS research funding =
be on a par with MS research; i.e. 67.5 times higher? (assuming =
prevalence of CFS 2.5 times higher than MS and estimated NIH budget for =
2012: http://report.nih.gov/rcdc/categories/)
If there were no health insurance industry, would CFS patients have less =
occasion to complain about abuse from medical personnel, benefits =
agencies and the media?
If there were no health insurance industry, could the causes of CFS and =
authentic treatments have been discovered by now, saving untold =
suffering for many people for years on end?
If there were no health insurance industry would it be 'M.E.' and a =
number of other rational diagnoses, with the derisory name 'CFS' never =
being concocted at all?
I wish I knew the answers, but must settle for concluding with a quote =
from Marshall, Williams and Hooper:
"The incidence of ME / ICD-CFS is known to be rising: in April 1994, the =
insurance company UNUM (one of the largest disability insurers) reported =
that in the five years from 1989 - 1993, mens' disability claims for CFS =
increased 360%, whilst womens' claims for CFS increased 557%. No other =
disease category surpassed these rates of increase. In order of =
insurance costs, ME/ICD-CFS came second in the list of the five most =
expensive chronic conditions, being three places above AIDS."=20
http://www.meactionuk.org.uk/What_Is_ME_What_Is_CFS.htm
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