The last NUS conference referred back the Executive's report on southern Africa which failed even to mention the role of the Labour Government in propping up imperialist interests. It is clear that the issues raised in this struggle are increasingly important, and to meet this need the IMG Student Commission is organising a tour of the colleges between 10-28 May at which supporters of the journal Africa in Struggle will speak on the tasks of solidaritv In the coming week the following meetings have so far been organised: Manches ter University, 11 May; York University, 13 May; Hull University and Newcastle, 14 May. If you want to organise a meeting in your college, write to or phone the IMG Student Commission, 97 Caledonian Road, London N.1. (01-278 9526).
"Doctrinally inspired nonsense', thundered the editor of The Times in response to the Labour Party's proposals on the drug industry. State control of only one of the monopolies is advocated. But however half-hearted the measures may seem, they have touched a verv raw nerve in the establishment.
The reason for this outburst is quite straightforward. The production of drugs under capitalism is related to profit, not to medical need. Over 85 per cent of the NHS drug market is controlled by 13 major companies, who are protected by state patent laws. These laws guarantee the right of a manufacturer to be the sole marketer of a drug for 16 years.
The manufacturers claim that IMG HEALTH COMMISSION The elderly - seen by a production conscious ruling class as poor investments - are treated as unimportant. The waiting lists in the NHS are crowded by old people. A common waiting period for operations on arthritis of the hip now varies between two and three years in many areas.
Mentally handicapped children -not seen as the most promising recruits to the future labour force -are packed into understaffed, underheated, decrepit institutions. An average of £25 a week is spent on their care, compared with £100 a week in an ordinary hospital for living standards on workers has mental stress. tackle the root of the problem. Red Weekly 6 May 1976 The effects of unemployment, a direct responsibility of the capitalist system, in imposing reduced physical effects on their diet and health, It also causes distress and anxiety as well as creating tensions between husband and wife, parents and children, and causing increasing Meanwhile the psychiatrists on their own are powerless to alter or change the social conditions that have caused the mental disorders of their patients, and so fall back on prescribing drugs which may offer temporary relief but do nothing to to be taker times a dar • J. D INCOLNS