The second step would be to end 'carve outs' in terms of valuation of statistical life allowed for new cancer treatments but retain a lower standard of evidence for the rarer cancers. The third might be to move the government-wide figure for the value of statistical life closer to that currently in use in the #us . The combination should retain - even reinforce - the integrity of the appraisal process - yet satisfy #bigpharma .

There seem to be the makings of a workable solution - made up of simple steps. First as #sirandrewdillon suggests review the #nihce valuation of statistical life and realign it with the figure used elsewhere in the #uk government. This will both allow approval of a tranche of new drugs and therapies for the #nhs and give a message of consistency and rationality - both of which should raise the 'animal spirits' of #bigpharma .

The other was a guest piece in #theeconomist from an economist from the #universityofchicago . It suggests that similar evaluations are done in the #us but use a much higher statistical value of life. Reading this I was pleasantly surprised although unsure how long such a rational and sensible procedure can be expected to survive in the current #us political climate! .

@2legged @ChrisMayLA6 Regarding wider use, someone on the News Quiz this week quipped that if everyone on Pride marches draped themselves in the flag then the right would pretty soon go off using it as a symbol.

@ChrisMayLA6
---Things fall apart;the centre cannot hold
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood dimmed tide is loosed and everywhere the ceremony of innocence is drowned
The best lack all conviction while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity
--what rough beast it's hour come round at last
Slouches towards Bethlehem to be born ?
WBYeats