Sharon Batt

Journalist/scholar/activist, focus on ethics and health. Author of Health Advocacy Inc.: How Pharmaceutical Funding Changed the Breast Cancer Movement.

[Sharon Batt @haronba]

Carly, thank you for this article and for your many excellent stories over the years. I’m happy you have a new gig you look forward to, but health reporters of your caliber are scarce and I’m sorry Canadian journalism is losing you.
Good luck, from a longtime reader!

[Carly Weeks @carlyweeks]

Long awaited guidelines from @cantaskforce don’t recommend routine breast screening at ages 40-49, citing a lack of evidence, but individuals who want screening shouldn’t face barriers getting it. My latest today in @globeandmail https://t.co/Jcw3zLnf6a

[Sharon Batt @haronba]

Excellent investigative article in The Star today, about online telehealth prescribing: I got a prescription for Ozempic, even though I shouldn’t have qualified. How the rise of for-profit telehealth companies has led to bad medicine https://t.co/TAjL8S9or6 via @torontostar

[Colleen Fuller @ColleenFuller]

History matters – a century after insulin’s discovery, we’re going backwards - Healthy Debate
For the record: Big Pharma exploits people who need insulin, charging them a high price for a medicine they would and do die without. ⁦@adriandix⁩ ⁦ https://t.co/njAEuLJFwU

[Sharon Batt @haronba]

A worthy rant -- watch it, act on it, spread it.
https://t.co/8swvogiz06 @ColleenFuller @DrNancyOlivieri @furlinil @MA_Gagnon @JoelLexchin @cmrherder

[Sharon Batt @haronba]

This is why controlling drug prices matters and why ersatz patient advocates who want drugs rushed to market are betraying the people they claim to represent: https://t.co/N8CiCKIKja
@DrNancyOlivieri @ColleenFuller @JEGanthro @livalittlefound @furlinil @KCroweToronto

[Dr. Nancy Olivieri @DrNancyOlivieri]

A #whistleblower raised safety concerns about OceanGate’s submersible in 2018.
His report began: 'Now is the time to properly address items that may pose a safety risk to personnel.'
He was fired.
https://t.co/4kdHAqJGjt

[Colleen Fuller @ColleenFuller]

This is bang on.

[Avis Favaro @Avis_Favaro]

Emerging story from Nova Scotia - and an ER with no doctor. Mayor of Middleton says firefighters had to be called to the hospital
to deal with a patient with cardiac arrest. Patient died. Letter below supplied by @NSValley #Emergency @CAEP_Docs

[Joseph Ross @jsross119]

An excellent piece. Patients are in a terrible position, but further relaxing standards helps no one. Key quote: "If the crusade for access wasn’t accompanied by a commensurately spirited campaign for answers, the chief beneficiaries would be the pharmaceutical companies."

[Dr. Nancy Olivieri @DrNancyOlivieri]

#Pharma playing dirty. That is, Pharma being Pharma.

Merck sues the US government over negotiated pricing of drugs for Medicare program *for the elderly* -- claiming its "rights under the constitution were violated" https://t.co/xdzQgRnPBT

@ColleenFuller @haronba @DonDavies

[Sharon Batt @haronba]

Excellent transparency initiative by members of #HESA, the HofC Health Committee. Lots here for journalists to chew on @carlyweeks @ReporterTeresa @picardonhealth @iPoliticsCA. See @KCroweToronto's latest piece in @TheBreachMedia.

[Matthew Herder (@mattherder.bksy.social) @cmrherder]

Heads up for folks following #HESA’s study on the #PMPRB:

Each of the witnesses were required to provide the committee with ‘correspondence’ corroborating their respective testimony.

To its credit, HESA has made those materials publicly available here:

https://t.co/26xNynmt19

[Sharon Batt @haronba]

The story in Canada continues: MP @DonDavies has asked @jyduclos, @MelanieBForcier, @cmrherder, and @DougPMPRB to submit documents to clarify contradictory claims made before the #ParliamentaryHealthCommittee. Hoping @TheLancet will follow up!

[Sharon Batt @haronba]

It was a huge blow for all of us, including me and my colleagues @ColleenFuller, @DrNancyOlivieri, @furlinil who have advocated for years to have these reforms passed. International support like yours is hugely important, so thank you @SuerieMoon

[Suerie Moon @SuerieMoon]

A real shame to see how Canada's ambitious drug pricing reforms were totally defanged by industry lobbying and lawsuits.

Gov't seems to have crumbled in face of Pharma opposition.

Heartbroken for hard working colleagues at @PMPRB_CEPMB who fought a good fight.

[Sharon Batt @haronba]

Love that "Nb" -- Not all patient groups toe the industry line!!

[Matthew Herder (@mattherder.bksy.social) @cmrherder]

That is not an agency in dysfunction. It is an agency reflecting on its options in the face of pressure from other parts of government, industry, and industry-funded patient groups*.

*Nb. patient groups NOT funded by industry supported the proposed guidelines.

[Sharon Batt @haronba]

Congratulations Françoise! You are 'impact ethics' personified -- great to see your contribution honoured with this prestigious prize. - Sharon

[Vertex Save Us @VertexSaveUs]

Today at the Brazilian Cystic Fibrosis Congress a protest was held at the @VertexPharma stand. Participants are demanding that they lower their prices and enable access to #Trikafta in Brazil and around the world. The global CF community is united and demand action now 👊💊🌎

[The Breach @TheBreachMedia]

Liberals were set to implement key drug-price reforms that would have saved Canadians $3 billion in one year. Then, the health minister intervened.

This week, parliament launched a probe into Duclos’ intervention. It started with a ground-breaking investigation by @KCroweToronto.

[TranspariMED @TranspariMED]

"Pharma companies have substantial influence over how medical knowledge is produced, circulated and consumed."

-> @consiliumsci event on KOLs on 08 June

https://t.co/nIlM9idm9s #lobbying

[Catherine Fife @CFifeKW]

Public Pharmacare is worth fighting for. KW Council of Canadians is organizing a Townhall on Pharmacare on Tues, May 16 from 7-9 pm at @FirstWaterloo.
@avilewis
@Wasem78
#OnPoli #CdnPoli