BMJ impact report 2021 | Better systems
Challenging institutional corruption In May 2021, we co-hosted a public meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Group to establish a ‘mandatory register of financial interests’ for UK doctors. 28 A mandatory register would list any money or benefits doctors receive in addition to their NHS salary. We continue to support campaigns for research integrity, and our organisation will continue to challenge institutional corruption. Dr Kamran Abbasi, executive editor of The BMJ has written articles on ‘state corruption’ and ‘social murder’ 29,30 in relation to the pandemic. His arguments were captured in the journalist, Owen Jones’ podcast, 31 and he was selected to feature in the Truth to Power exhibition 32 ; a multimedia photography project funded by the Arts Council that celebrates people in the media who have covered some of the biggest stories of the pandemic.
Using our health data and economics expertise to improve health systems
The BMJ Technology Assessment Group (BMJ-TAG) conducts health research for a range of institutions. This year’s work has led to some revolutionary changes to the way patients receive treatment through the NHS.
disorder. It was recently approved for NHS treatment by NICE after its appraisal by the BMJ-TAG team. This life-extending and life-enhancing treatment 35 is the most expensive drug in history to be made available by NICE and is likely to become a benchmark for subsequent gene therapies.
Work with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) led to the most significant breakthrough in ovarian cancer treatment in decades. Now, more than 3,000 more women each year will have access to niraparib, 33 a medicine that will keep tumours at bay for years.
Our drug assessments have seen ribociclib, a life-extending drug for incurable breast cancer, approved for NHS use – potentially benefiting 3,300 women a year. 34 Onasemnogene is one of the very first gene therapies used to help protect babies from the impact of their inherited muscle-weakening
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