http://www.deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuw...ctor_follow-up
This is currently a hot topic in Belgium.
Basically, a 7 year old child named Viktor has a rare disease that requires medication worth 18,000 EUR per month, medication which is not refunded by the National Health Service. The parents were referred to a communications agency by a patient interest group to bring public attention to this topic. the news made all the headlines and even the federal government got involved: the health minister is now talking to Alexion, the company that makes the medication, to strike a deal. discussions were already underway before the press got involved.
however, today, it turned out that the agency that the parents got referred to was contacted and paid for by Alexion, in order to put extra pressure on the minister. the parents did not know this, and furthermore it was found out that the company deliberately chose Viktor due to mediagenic profile.
This just becomes absurd...
what's your opinion on this?