The forthcoming National Alzheimer’s Strategic Plan (NASP) headed up by Newt Gingrich and former Senator Bob Kerrey is a puff piece of a program that touches all the bases, includes all the right "stakeholder" groups, produces a broad vision that everyone can agree with and thereby will contribute nothing to moving America closer to reducing the onset and severity of Alzheimer's disease anytime soon.
The emphasis on more NIH funding is so typical and so politically self-indulgent I am wondering if just writing blank checks with specific supplicants names identified would be a more transparent way to reflect the pandering involved. The call for a NIH biomarker effort is a guarantee for federally funded sloth. We need a private sector rush to commercialize gene-tests to predict onset of AD and response to medicines instead. And for the call for more comparative effectiveness research on "what works" in treating patients, gee, what an original idea. I wonder who will set that agenda?
Most depressing is the complete absence of any analysis or speaking truth to power about how investment for Alzheimer's product development will not materialize if the Critical Path is not funded, if price controls are imposed, if rebates on the very drugs that benefit seniors in nursing homes are raised across the board, if patent terms for new medicines are weakened, if the biomarkers used to advance survival and quality of life in HIV, cancer and other illnesses are attacked as simply unscientific and companies and the biotech companies that are burning more cash at lower valuations are required not only to conduct longer and more expensive clinical trials to demonstrate survival but produce evidence of comparative effectiveness to the satisfaction of HMOs. And what about the attack on companies that want to support academic researchers and provide funding for CME to disseminate best practices to the primary care docs who provide most of the care for seniors with Alzheimer's.
Newt used to be a provocative and thunderous souce of change in health care.
Unless and until those associated with the NASP stand up for unshackling the private sector, they will be bystanders as well, despite their hard work and good intentions.
I'm sorry. I wish I could be more politic and polite.
The emphasis on more NIH funding is so typical and so politically self-indulgent I am wondering if just writing blank checks with specific supplicants names identified would be a more transparent way to reflect the pandering involved. The call for a NIH biomarker effort is a guarantee for federally funded sloth. We need a private sector rush to commercialize gene-tests to predict onset of AD and response to medicines instead. And for the call for more comparative effectiveness research on "what works" in treating patients, gee, what an original idea. I wonder who will set that agenda?
Most depressing is the complete absence of any analysis or speaking truth to power about how investment for Alzheimer's product development will not materialize if the Critical Path is not funded, if price controls are imposed, if rebates on the very drugs that benefit seniors in nursing homes are raised across the board, if patent terms for new medicines are weakened, if the biomarkers used to advance survival and quality of life in HIV, cancer and other illnesses are attacked as simply unscientific and companies and the biotech companies that are burning more cash at lower valuations are required not only to conduct longer and more expensive clinical trials to demonstrate survival but produce evidence of comparative effectiveness to the satisfaction of HMOs. And what about the attack on companies that want to support academic researchers and provide funding for CME to disseminate best practices to the primary care docs who provide most of the care for seniors with Alzheimer's.
Newt used to be a provocative and thunderous souce of change in health care.
Unless and until those associated with the NASP stand up for unshackling the private sector, they will be bystanders as well, despite their hard work and good intentions.
I'm sorry. I wish I could be more politic and polite.
