Why is the Medical Doctors Trade Union blocking roll out of a cost effective cholesterol jab?

In September 2021 this NHS site reported that a deal had been concluded that meant a cholesterol-busting jab, (called Inclisiran), to save thousands of lives could be rolled out.

But the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the British Medical Association (BMA) have advised their members to not prescribe Inclisiran.  Their position staement on this matter bascially says they have ongoing questions regarding it's roll out to primary care.  Those questions concern the lack of long term data (expected 2026) and the resources needed for such a roll out. and warns members.

The BMA's website says they are the trade union and professional body for doctors in the UK.

NICE (National Institute for Health & Care Excellence) say Inclisiran, despite some uncertainties, is considered to be cost effective for people who have previously had a cardiovascular event and have persistently high cholesteral levels.

NICE's website says they help practitioners and commissioners get the best care to patients, fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer.

So in effect a Trade Union (whose primary duty and reason for existing is, naturally, to their members) is advising its members to not roll out a treatment that NICE says should be rolled out to certrtain patients (NICE's remit is best care to patients whilst ensuring value for taxpayers)

Despite the posturing some insiders say the BMA's posiiton is all about the fact that, in their view, GPs won't be paid enough to give the jab. Following drug firm Novartis’s decision to bring down the cost per dose, the NHS also reduced the amount GP practices are paid for each jab from £10 to £5.

Andy Parkin, medical director of the Kent Local Medical Committee, told the British Medical Journal that practices ‘would lose money’ by prescribing inclisiran.  He claims this is as the reduced payment does not cover the cost of administering the jab and then monitoring patients.

Background Info

Some sestimate that Inclisiran could prevent 55,000 heart attacks and strokes, saving 30,000 lives in a decade.

In England for out of every ten people four have high cholesterol with the attendant significant risk of developing heart disease.

A nurse could administer Inclisiran as an injection in GP surgeries.  After an initial dose, the drug woould then  be given again after three months and then twice a year.

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