Public Meeting
Statins: Curse or Cure? A Public Debate.
Dr Alex Allinson MHK
and
Courtenay Heading
Monday 25th September 2017 at 7:30 p.m.
Manx Museum Theatre, Douglas
The event is free and open to all
The cost and funding of prescription drugs is a hot topic in the Isle of Man.
Positive Action Group (PAG) kicks off its monthly series of public meetings with a debate about the wisdom of widely prescribing statins to adults. Statins are drugs which lower cholesterol in the blood. Elevated levels of cholesterol are associated with an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, and often devastating problems.
The British Heart Foundation identifies two groups of people who benefit from statins - those who already are at high risk and those who potentially are at risk. Taking statins is one option to lower the risk. But is the drug safe? What are the side effects? Should the NHS be prescribing a preventative pill when there are other ways to achieve a healthier non-risk life style?
Guest speaker Courtenay Heading is a former Healthcare Innovation Consultant to the Isle of Man Government.He firmly believes that adopting a healthy life style pays untold dividends and has amassed a wealth of information which is contrary to conventional medical practice. He rejects what he perceives as the pill culture and the cost to us all.
Dr Alex Allinson MHK, is a practising doctor who is well aware of the advantages of statins. He will advocate those benefits and the continued use of the drug.
Following the debate their will be adequate time for questions from the audience.
I sincerely hope that Members of Tynwald will shortly adopt a New Year's Resolution to the effect that they 'resolve to cease the introduction of major changes to the Income Tax Acts by means of Temporary Taxation Orders.' 
Proposals have been put forward for a Single Resident Record for the Isle of Man.
