One area of science where communication issues are particularly important is that of medicine. Patients need to be able to obtain information from their doctors, who in turn rely on the advances of researchers. All of this occurs within a regulatory framework to ensure best practise.
In the UK, medicines and medical devices have to be deemed safe by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), a part of the Government’s Department of Health (MHRA, 2011a). Only with MHRA approval can drugs and appliances be provided to patients “over-the-counter” in pharmacies or by prescription on the National Health Service (NHS). The NHS is publically funded, which means that patients typically pay nothing or very little for their treatment, because the costs are covered by the taxpayer (NHS, 2011).
An interesting read - written as an essay for a Master’s Course.
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